Senator Bassey Albert has called International Oil and Gas Companies operating in Niger Delta region of Nigeria to move their operational bases to the region.
This, Senator Albert said would, among other benefits “boost development in those areas and enhance the corporate social relations to host communities.”
This was part of the Senator’s lecture as first Distinguished Alumni Lecturer of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
His lecture was titled ‘Oil, Gas and Politics: Unbundling the conundrum for National Development.’
The Senator acknowledged that “multinational and Nigerian oil and gas companies have been operating from their respective operational bases until heightened militancy and insecurity in the host communities in the Niger Delta” but suggested that the excuse of insecurity was no longer tenable as peace has since returned to the hitherto troubled region.
Recalling that he recently moved a Motion during plenary in the Senate demanding the relocation; divulged that the motive of his action was “to ensure that the host communities in the Niger Delta region were not schemed out of the economic gains of the Petroleum Industry Act (2021).”
“Operating outside their operational base is responsible for the high cost of production, which has been the bane of the country’s oil and gas industry and militating against attempts to maximize revenue from crude oil and gas sales to the Federation.
“The relocation of these companies to their host communities will further boost development in those areas and enhance the corporate social relations to host communities. Equally, it will strengthen our collective resolve to drastically reduce the contentious cost of production and ensure adequate returns to the federation account,” the senator opined.
He also delved into the need to strengthen the oil and gas sector via curbing of gas flaring: “I lead the debate on the Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Punishment) Bill, 2020. The flaring of natural gas produced in association with crude oil is one of the most dangerous environmental and energy waste practices in the Nigerian petroleum industry.
“Gas flaring affects the environment and human health, resulting in economic loss, depriving the government of associated tax revenues and trade opportunities, and denying consumers of a clean and cheaper energy source and environment. The advent of the PIA has taken care of gas flaring concerns, as proceeds from its penalties have now been transferred to midstream Gas infrastructure funds which will be used for environmental remediation of communities affected by activities of oil and gas companies.”
Describing the PIA as a catalyst for optimal growth of the industry, he regretted that “for nearly two decades, Nigeria has faced uncertainty in the policy framework for optimal development of the oil and gas sector”, and hailed the PIA as a germane solution.
“It is part of the agenda of the 9th Senate to reform the country’s oil and gas sector,” he assured.
Senator Bassey Albert represents Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial in Nigeria’s Senate, and is also the Chairman, Senate Committee of Petroleum (Upstream).
By Ofonime Honesty