A non-governmental body, Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSTCON) has called on the federal government to implement 13% implementation of oil and gas derivations to host communities as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Making the demand while inaugurating the Women’s Wing of the body at the Peoples Club of Nigeria secretariat along Rumuola Road in Port Harcourt on Friday, National Chairman of HOSTCON, Prince Dr. Mike Emuh said the agitation for direct payment of 13% is the constitutional right of the communities who bear the brunt of effects of oil and gas exploration, hence should not be politicized.
According to Dr. Emuh, pipeline surveillance and proceeds from gas flaring were also exclusive prerogative of host communities as enunciated by the Constitution.
“These monies are exclusively ours and cannot be paid to federation account, state or local government. But the error is that this money is paid to the federation account which then becomes every bodies money while the host communities languish”, he said.
The HOSTCON National Chairman further lamented how host communities has suffered environmental degradation, acidic rain, corrosion, health hazard and other environmental problems, urging the federal government to release the points that has been approved for host communities.
“The law guiding gas flaring all over the globe is that when you flare gas, accruement of one thousand standard chemical flare is directly paid to the host communities, three dollar fifty cent paid by the IOC and the NOC to DPR, then to CBN to host communities account”, he said.
Prince Dr. Mike Emuh commended the youths of Niger Delta for their peaceful disposition even in the face of provocation and called on the government to act fast to ameliorate the plight of host communities.
Also speaking, the Women Leader Pastor Mrs. Gani Mercy JP said she is excited that they are no longer hiding at the back or in the kitchen but are out at the fore front to achieve whatever is due them, adding that they are moving train and will never remain stagnant anymore.
Another speaker, Dr. Mrs. Charity Emuh said the group would mobilize the rural communities to achieve their rights and privileges associated with oil and gas exploration in the State.
By Anita Giami
