Posted by By BROWN CHIMEZIE on
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has described Federal Government's decision to set up a Flare Reduction Committee to work on another deadline for zero gas flaring as mere window dressing and a back door approach to announce that government has finally capitulated to the 2010 flare out date being proposed by oil multi-nationals.
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has described Federal Government's decision to set up a Flare Reduction Committee to work on another deadline for zero gas flaring as mere window dressing and a back door approach to announce that government has finally capitulated to the 2010 flare out date being proposed by oil multi-nationals.
Media reports earlier in the week had quoted the Group General Manager of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Levi Ajuonoma as saying that the Federal Government has raised the committee to "develop a road map to the elimination of flaring within a realistic time frame."
Ajuonoma also disclosed that the committee is being facilitated by the World Bank Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR).
But a statement issued on Tuesday by ERA/FOEN Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey said government's decision, announced through the NNPC, barely a week after it said it had extended the deadline on gas flaring to December 31, 2008 has far reaching implications on the lives of Niger Delta communities and is a confirmation that government has never been sincere in tackling the problems of the region.
"They are talking about realistic time-table to stop gas flaring. It is so sad. What they are implying is that it is realistic to continue the wanton loss of human lives, destruction of local livelihoods and pollution of the environment through gas flaring," he said.
The group further stated that it is regrettable that government opted for the window dressing approach of a committee against local and international pressure that it halts all flares on the December 31, 2007. It also pointed out that the composition of the committee without any mention of representatives from the communities is an open cheque to oil companies to decide when they feel they will want to end gas flaring.
"When you check the list of the members of their so-called committee you find oil companies and their subsidiaries. They did not say a word about the community people and this has reinforced our belief that government is concerned only with oil revenue regardless of the plight of Niger Delta communities.
Besides, when you look more critically, it is an abdication of duty on the part of government to cede the responsibility of fixing deadline on gas flaring, a policy issue, to oil multi-nationals who are the culprits,", Nnimmo added.
Nigeria flares about 2.5 million metric cubic feet gas daily. The World Bank calculates the losses at over $2.5 billion annually.