HEDA Calls for Transparent Divestment, Citizens Participation in Niger Delta

By

Pius Dikor

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre (HEDA) in collaboration with the National Human Right Commission ( NHRC) have ended a one day event with the Theme: Enhancing Citizens Capacity to Tackle the Triple Threat of Environmental Pollution, Human Rights Violations and Divestment in the Oil and Gas Sector in the Oil Producing Area.

Speaking to our correspondent after the program which held in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju the chairman of HEDA stated that the purpose of the event was to highlight the importance of community roles in human right protection in the issue of oil divestment.

He explained that in the consideration of divestment, the oil companies and the federal government must involve all stakeholders in the discuss noting that

Divestment in the Niger Delta must be done in integrity and fairness without excluding the Community people. The stakeholders have the passion coming from their past experience where the International Oil Companies left the communities without proper information

In his presentation, Egnr. Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), represented by Dr. Kelechi Ofoegbu , Executive Commissioner , Corporate Services and Administration, NUPRC  stated the government checks for a company's legal requirements, Community consideration, financial considerations, health and safety among others before approving any divestment.

According to him, the checklist  serves as a prerequisite consideration before any divestment can take place, and before any approval is made, a written document from the company must pass through the office of the Hon. Minister of Petroleum of Nigeria.

On her part, Emem Okon, the coordinator of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre pointed out that women are more vulnerable suffering from exclusion in the Oil and Gas business in the Niger Delta.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nicholas Hildyard , Co-director, Corner House United Kingdom in his document titled Shell's proposed sale of SPDC, Red flags over Renaissance's finances, stated that they have raised concern over the proposed sale to Renaissance which is a new company with no track record and financial history among other flaws.