AC, Group, Knock FG over Lagos 37 LCDs, Petroleum Bill

AC, Group, Knock FG over Lagos 37 LCDs, Petroleum Bill

As the federal government's directive to Lagos State government to dismantle the 37 local government development areas reverberates across Nigeria, the Action Congress (AC) in Bayelsa State has stated that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua had acted in bad faith.

This is just as the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has described the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill as another pain in the neck of the Niger Delta region. The positions of both groups were contained in a separate statement issued in Yenagoa by the state secretary of the AC, Comrade Ebikibina Miriki and the Executive Director of ANEEJ, David Ugolor.

According to the AC, the federal government's 14-day ultimatum to Lagos State compelling it to revert to the statutory 20 local councils was against the principles of federalism which Nigeria was currently practicing. The party noted that there was something sinister about Yar'Adua's insistence that Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola should delete the 37 local council development areas despite the Supreme Court judgment which settled the matter in favour of Lagos State.

The AC said: "By the grace of God, Nigeria is practicing democracy in a federalist structure where the federating states enjoy autonomy, especially the administering of local councils. "President Yar'Adua's ultimatum directing Lagos State government to cancel 37 local council development areas created by an act of Lagos State Hosue of Assembly, and pronounced as valid by the Supreme Court verdict, is an abuse of the rule of law.

The AC submitted that Nigeria was not practicing a unitary system of government where the central government bullied state governments, stressing that democracy was being fettered by the abuse of power. "The federal government ultimatum to Lagos State government in the face of the fact that the act of the state House of Assembly on the 37 local council development areas is receiving ratification by the National Assembly shows that President Yar'Adua pays lip service to due process", it added.

However, the ANEEJ had urged the federal government to withdraw the Petroleum Industry Bill, saying the continued debate on the bill could unsettle a lot of nerves in the Niger Delta. The environmental advocacy group commended the decision of the South-South governors to pull out of the amnesty deal as it had exposed the federal government's intentions for the region. "The decision of the South-South governors to withdraw support for amnesty is in order.

For the first time, these governors have spoken and represented their people adequately. "The Ministry of Niger Delta was allocated N50 billion in this year's budget for capital development whereas the federal government approved N60 billion for the upgrading of Abuja Airport Road. This is ridiculous and a clear testimony of the federal government's unserious attitude towards the Niger Delta". It also called on the South-South governors to take a position on the Petroleum Industry Bill, adding that, if the bill must sail through, the governors should ensure that the proposed law accommodated the concerns, wishes and aspirations of oil-bearing communities.

Govt Revitalizes Marine Transport

The Bayelsa State government has announced its readiness to revitalize the comatose marine transport in the predominantly riverine state with a view to ameliorating transport difficulties encountered by coastal communities.

The state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Emmanuel Frank-Opigo told journalists in Yenagoa that government had decided to accord priority to water transport because over 70 percent of communities in the state were located along several rivers and creeks. According to him, government had entered into a public-private partnership with Gold Coast Nig. Ltd, a marine transport firm which, Frank-Opigo noted, had the requisite pedigree to deliver on the water transport plans of government.

The Commissioner disclosed that the Governor Timipre Sylva administration "inherited 12 dilapidated marine transport boast" upon its inauguration two years ago. He said accessibility and movement of goods and services to and from the coastal communities had been a problem for the people of the state The partnership with Gold Coast Nig. Ltd, Frank- Opigo informed, had started on a good note as the company had refurbished four of the 12 decrepit boats, stressing that efforts were on to get the remaining boats refurbished.

He said the refurbished four boats, in the meantime, would go a long way in setting government's marine transport agenda to reposition the marine sector. He said the partnership allowed the marine transport company to run the fleet and pay government an agreed amount of money periodically.

Frank-Opigo said government would ensure that sufficient boats were provided to ferry goods and services from the state capital, Yenagoa, to and between coastal communities. The Commissioner also reiterated government's commitment to ban commercial motorcycles from operating in Yenagoa and fully replace them with buses and taxis. Frank-Opigo said the phasing out of commercial motorcycle operation in the state capital would be in stages, adding that they would be finally replaced after the scheme had taken off effectively.

House to Lobby Against Petroleum Industry Bill

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Wednesday said it would embark on a campaign to lobby the five State Houses of Assembly in the Niger Delta region to reject the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill. It will be recalled that Petroleum Minister, Rilwanu Lukman, had while speaking at the Senate public hearing on the bill in Abuja, said that the bill would ensure transparency in the oil and gas sector.

``The bill is in the best interest of Nigerians and the people living in the oil producing areas contrary to speculation in some quarters,'' he said. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) Lee Maeba, said that the bill was coming at a time when obsolete laws in the sector should be repealed. He noted that all memoranda received during the hearing, would be treated equally and urged members of the public and other stakeholders who still had memoranda to present to the committee to do so.

But the Deputy Speaker, Nestor Binabo, who led other lawmakers in a debate after the House resumed from a two weeks recess, warned that the Bill was capable of ``thwarting'' the peace efforts in the region. Most of the members agreed that the supporting roles of the various assemblies in the region, would reduce the noticeable lukewarm attitude of Ministers and Senators from the region.

Contributing, Mr Jonathan Obuebite, representing Nembe I Constituency, alleged that the Bill was a deliberate move to further marginalise the people of the Niger Delta. ``It will be against the principles of fair play, equity and natural justice,'' he said. Other members called on elected and political office holders from the region to show signs of concern and support for issues affecting the people of the region rather than adopting a lukewarm attitude due to selfish political considerations. Igoniko Oduma, Yenagoa