https://www.facebook.com/110947143580006/

EnvironmentWatch environpress, Yenagoa (2025)

08/08/2025

TIME FOR FAR-REACHING REFORMS IN THE UNITED NATIONS
by Braeyi Ekiye

Recently, the United Nations celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the end of the 2nd World War.
For two weeks in the summer of 1945, from July 17 to August 2, President Harry Truman of the United States of America, British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) met at Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine. These three greats of WWII at the meeting plotted the fate of the world. They had earlier met at Tehran, Iran in November 1943, all in a bid to finding a lasting solution to the raging World War II which began on September 1, 1939 with the German invasion of Poland.
The world, in disbelief, pondered over the huge devastation of Japan occasioned by the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed with the second on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Japan, totally humiliated and destroyed, surrendered on August 14th, 1945.
The use of nuclear bomb on Japan abruptly ended World War II. Erudite writer, Turner Catledge, in his biographical reflections of then US President, Harry Truman in the book: “Portraits of Power” at page 97, captured the end of the war this way: “The end of the war came with a suddenness for which neither the government (America) nor the citizens was prepared”. That was the impact of the massive destruction and the waste the atomic bomb unleashed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The dramatic human and environmental destruction was in great proportions, with bodies mutilated and dissolved like salt in water.
President Truman in reply to the US Secretary of War, Henry Simson, seeking the use of the atomic bomb in Japan had replied in these terse words: “Reply to your 41011. Suggestions approved. Release when ready but not sooner than August 2”, with his signature appended.
Thus, on August 6, 1945, Hiroshima had the first unpalatable taste of the atomic bomb followed with the second over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.
President Truman, himself totally overwhelmed by the over-reaching effects of the “Atomic bomb” dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki bemoaned the colossal destruction and waste of major cities and industrial complexes in Japan. I believe that Truman was utterly devastated by the use of a weapon of mass destruction with its consequent loss of lives and property. Reflecting on the waste and the senseless use of the Atomic bomb, Truman had a cautionary word for the world: “Let us not fail to grasp this supreme chance to establish a worldwide rule of ‘reason’, to create an enduring peace under the guidance of God”.
Also reflecting on the atomic bomb that brought Japan on her knees, Emperor of Japan, Hirohito, vividly captured his nation’s plight in regret: “The ultimate result of the wartime destruction, is that, major cities were laid waste and more than 80 percent of the manufacturing plants were destroyed under incessant bombing”.
Today, the world is witnessing a greater threat – World War III. It is, therefore, incumbent on world leaders to be circumspect in matters affecting threats to peace and security in the world. A third world war would be catastrophic viewed against the backdrop of the modern and highly sophisticated arsenals including nuclear weapons being primed for use in settling scores. This approach is animalistic, crude in every sense of the word, in this time and age of our civilization.
We are all abreast with the holocaust: the genocide perpetrated on European Jews during World War II. The historical facts of N**i Germany and its collaborators who systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe is still fresh in our minds. The wounds are yet to be healed completely even as these historical facts are deep-etched in the hearts of the Jews and humanity. The conscience, the soul of the world, is at present restless and troubled with the ongoing drum beats of war across the globe. That, the world, especially her leaders have forgotten so soon the consequences of the 1941-1945 holocaust is unfortunate.
The world, particularly the self-anointed world powers; America, Russia, Germany, France, China and United Kingdom, like the mole rat, are hard of hearing. They are too busy beating the drums of war and manufacturing, at breakneck speed, weapons of mass destruction, and testing their might and destroying smaller and vulnerable countries as a circus show of power and might.
The world looks on while Ukraine is being viciously attacked by Russia and destroyed; the Israeli and Palestine war has been ongoing for almost two years, with Israel having the upper hand in the war front. While the Palestinians are suffocating under Israeli incessant attacks, especially on Gaza, with millions rendered homeless, hunger stricken, malnourished children, youths and adults begging for food for survival, the world looks on unperturbed. It piques the mind that America, a world power and a friend and ally of Israel is unable to prevail on Israel to stop this war which is a threat to world peace and security.
Meanwhile, the European Union is also helpless, frantically serving empty messages of condemnation against Israel on the current mayhem being visited on the Palestinians, especially Gaza.
The tension between Israel and Iran is yet to die down. Israel views Iran as an existential threat on account of Tehran’s rhetoric and their suspicion that the country is enriching uranium to produce nuclear weapons. In addition, Israel accuses Iran of financing Palestinian groups such as Hamas--the bone of contention, in furtherance of its terrorist adventures.
Needless to say that other geo-political zones across the world are also in turmoil, boiling over with war drums and trumpets. Such areas include Africa (Ethiopia-Eretria, Sudan, Somalia, DRC Congo and the Sahel region), Asia (India-Pakistan and recently, Thailand-Cambodia clashes) and in Middle Eastern countries like Syria and Yemen.
According to records, the United Nations (UN) was established at the end of World War II, primarily to prevent future conflicts and maintain international peace and security. The framers of the articles of association of the United Nations were touched by the devastation and loss of lives recorded by the two world wars within a single generation.
It is most unfortunate that the good intentions of the founders of the United Nations are to be realized since after its formation on 25th June, 1945, when representatives of 50 nation states gathered in the San Francisco Opera House, in New York, USA, to unanimously pass the United Nations (UN) Charter. The next day, in the auditorium of the Veterans Memorial Hall, the delegates signed the UN Charter. Sixty years after, the United Nations is yet to stand sure on its mandate of preventing future wars and maintaining international peace and security in the world.
To my mind there is no better organization than the United Nations in restoring world peace and order. I think that the lack of inclusivity and water-tight reservation of veto powers to the only known six Security Council members of the Union, to wit: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, has to a great extent, made the Union a toothless bull dog in fostering cooperation among member states. The United Nations therefore, needs urgent reforms that would enable its members have a true sense of belonging in the Union and work collectively as co-equals in pursuance of the organisation’s goal of international co-operation and the restoration of world peace and security. What the United Nations represent today is like the ‘Animal Farm’, where some animals are more equal than others. This abuse of power by the six Security Council members in the use of veto powers and the impunity enjoyed in the world assembly is not working for the good of the organization and the world. It stands Truth on the head and encourages the corruption of the Charter itself, giving rise to unabated conflicts, crisis and wars among nation states. After all, all men are created equal by God. And that coincidentally, is the foundational principle of the American Creed, which originates from the American Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This Creed signifies that all individuals are entitled to the same fundamental rights and opportunities, regardless of their background. This affirmation should be translated in the workings and administration of the United Nations if it is to be taken seriously.
For the sake of emphasis, America’s war-time president, Harry Truman, has warned in 1945, when in his appeal to the world, stated thus: “Let us not fail to grasp this supreme chance to establish a worldwide rule of reason, to create an enduring peace under the guidance of God”.
There is no doubt that the United Nations is under the guidance of God, irrespective of which religion member states worship. It therefore behooves the Security Council members to come together, leaving their ego and superiority clout behind, and embrace the equality of states and work sincerely, purposefully and decisively in tandem with the mandate of the United Nations for the restoration of peace and security in the world.
It is clear that the United Nations is yet to pay enough and sincere attention to the underlying factors that pummel the conflicts, turmoil and wars across the globe. The civilized world needs a transparent solution-based approach by the world body at conflict resolution. This, therefore, calls for far-reaching reforms in the Union that would not only give a true sense of belonging to all member states on equal footing but a union that is totally committed to a new world order and security and amity in the globe.
Equity and Justice should be the pillars that should be firmly erected on the foundation of the new United Nations of our dream.

Braeyi Collins Ekiye
Publisher, EnvironmentWatch and CEO, BRAEBI TV Services Ltd.

04/04/2024

SEN. DICKSON’S VOCAL VOICE ON OIL THEFT IN THE NIGER DELTA
By Braeyi Ekiye

Standing up for justice and vocally too, is about standing up for each other. It is our duty to speak for the nation’s lingering ills to be corrected, particularly when others cannot speak up. That is the critical power of the voice for the reconstruction of the Nigerian State to attain the desired real nationhood.
‘Contriman Governor’, and now a distinguished Senator representing Bayelsa West, Barrister Seriake Dickson recently stood up to be counted with an informed vocal voice on a serious national issue; oil theft and its debilitating consequences on Nigeria’s economy and security.
Like the White Shark (Oforoma-pepe), known for his fearlessness and courage, Dickson spoke candidly on the on-going large-scale crude oil thefts in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.
Answering questions from an interview programme at Channels Television recently, Senator Dickson pointedly accused some very important personalities from Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for being behind oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Hear the Senator:” The Official system and oil companies are beneficiaries of oil theft in the Niger Delta”. Senator Dickson bemoaned the absence of national values which he said, makes people to use the nation’s resources for selfish gains.
He reiterated during the Channels TV interview that: “People from Abuja and Lagos are the masterminds and the official system is not ignorant and not innocent. The official security system, the official oil system, the official federal system, all of it in its entirety. It’s a powerful system,” he stated.
Senator Dickson wondered why a country like Nigeria that has been producing oil, exporting oil for the past 70 years was unable to have scientific way of metering, recording what leaves, what is pumped, what is sold and what is not sold? He concluded that it was a deliberate attempt at bleeding the country of her financial and economic wealth through illegal bunkering, superintended by local, national and international oil theft collaborators.
Senator Dickson’s unambiguous stand on oil theft in the Niger Delta further lends credence to Asari Dokubo’s straight and penetrating shot at the military, of its complicity in oil theft in June 2023. Asari has said then, and I quote: “The Army and Navy were behind oil theft. They intimidate the Civil Defence, who are by law expected to protect oil installations. They tap directly from the oil head”, he said.
What has been happening, Dokubo said, in the last eight years, is unprecedented anywhere in the world. Dokubo categorically alleged that officers and men of the Army and Navy deployed to protect oil installations, instead, ‘set up facilities they call local refineries,’ referring to the popular and cheaper kpo-fire fuel.
It is instructive that the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), had in November 6th, 2023, through its Executive Secretary, Ogbonnaya Orji, has said that oil theft was an emergency that posed serious threat to oil exploration and exploitation with huge negative consequences on economic growth, business projects and profit earnings by oil companies.
Orji stated that as a result of NEITI being a member of the “Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft and Losses”, the organisation was aware that: “Oil theft is perpetrated mainly through pipeline clamping, illegal connections and major pipeline exploitation of abandoned oil well heads, pipeline breakages and vandalism of key national assets to illegally siphon crude into waiting vessels stationed in strategic terminals”.
NEITI maintained that it was a matter of fact that many members of the pipeline’s association were directly and indirectly involved in providing the skills and knowledge required to carry out oil theft.
Orji therefore, condemned the association for failing to put in place stringent regulations and appropriate sanctions to check involvement of their members.
It would also be recalled that, Peter Obi, the presidential flag-bearer of Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP), had accused ‘people in government’ for massive rampant oil theft in late October, 2022.
According to Obi: “It was impossible for an ordinary Nigerian to steal oil without the cooperation of government.” His panacea for turning around this ugly situation for the better was that of an ”aggressive and progressive production of local refining of our crude oil”.
In my previous articles on oil theft and its devastating consequences on the economy and security of the country, published widely over the years, I have maintained that Nigeria yet needs a ‘Leader’ and not a ‘Ruler‘, with the courage of conviction and political will to drive the process of good governance in the Nigerian State to find lasting solution to this lingering malady and other critical issues that have defied solution.
While being hopeful that President Tinubu’s leadership would spring a surprise to douse the fears, the apprehensions of critical Nigerian minds, like Senator Dickson, Ogbonnaya, Dokubo and many others, there is the compelling need for this administration to seriously interrogate this malignant ulcer on the nation’s oil industry. Therefore, there is also the need to critically examine NEITI’s unsolicited solutions to the problems of oil theft that have held Nigeria’s economy prostrate and her developmental framework for accelerated growth in all facets stunted.
The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in a report titled: “Nigeria’s Battle With Crude Oil Theft: A Total of 4,145 Cases Since May 2023,” published by ARISE NEWS on November 23rd, 2023, revealed a staggering number of highlights of the severity of the issue at hand.
Also, in its weekly: “Energy & You” series aired on the NTA News Network, the NNPCL noted in episode 7 that 344 crude oil theft incidents were recorded between January and April 2023. Meanwhile, by Episode 8 of the weekly NTA television series, NNPCL shared reports of crude oil theft incidents. A summation of crude oil theft incidents recorded between episode 8 (May 2023) and episode 30 (October 2023), revealed that a total of 4,145 crude oil theft incidents were recorded between May 2023 and the second week of October 2023. According to NNPCL records, some of the more active hotspots for crude oil theft in the Niger Delta include; Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta (Imo), Ogbia, Imiringi (Bayelsa), Obodo-Omadino, Ughelli (Delta), and Egorobiri creek, Gokana, Iba community, Emuoha, Rumuji, Degema (Rivers).
Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, had revealed in August 2023, that: “the country was losing 400,000 barrels of oil per day to crude oil thieves”. This led to commentators insisting that the persistence of crude oil theft in Nigeria lays bare the deep-rooted issues of corruption and severity of vulnerabilities in the country. That, Nigeria lost more than ₦4.3 trillion naira to oil theft in five years, stolen in 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases is not news. NEITI revealed this startling loss at the Nigeria Interventional Security Conference in Abuja, with the theme: “Bolstering Regulations, Technology and Security for Growth”, in November 2023. The conference was organised by the Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria. In a presentation at the conference, NEITI, the federal government agency, revealed that oil theft and losses in Nigeria have become a national emergency, and shall i say, a monumental embarrassment to the country.
Recently, Senator Chinedu Munir Nwoko, representing Aniocha/Oshimili Senatorial Constituency shed more light on this disturbing matter. Senator Nwoko said that certain security officials whose primary duty is to safeguard oil and gas assets, are actually complicit in this illegal trade. “They are driven by the financial gains associated with illegal activities”, the distinguished Senator said.
The crude oil theft network encompasses a broad spectrum of individuals and groups, as Senator Dickson rightly pointed out in his point-blank answers to questions at the Channels TV interview and corroborated by NEITI. It involves foreign oil traders, shippers, bankers, refiners, top-ranking politicians and even military officials.
The Executive Secretary, NEITI, Ogbonnaya Orji, said oil theft was an emergency that posed serious threat to oil exploration and exploitation with huge negative consequences on economic growth, business projects and profit earnings by oil companies. Providing data from the agency’s reports to back his claims, he said: “NEITI in the last five years, 2017-2021, has found that Nigeria recorded 7,143 cases of pipeline breakages and deliberate pipeline vandalism resulting in crude theft and product losses of 208.639 million barrels valued at $12.74m or 4.325 trillion naira. NEITI reports also disclosed that during the same period, Nigeria spent ₦471.493 billion to either through repairs or maintenance of pipelines.
The criminal exploits, NEITI said, takes place, ‘most times in atmosphere of communities’ complicity and conspiracy of silence. This, therefore, calls for the Tinubu administration to swiftly swing into action in a presidential manner to put an end to this dastardly act, or at least, reduce it to the barest minimum. After all, the state security agencies for effecting a quick resolution of this matter are at the president’s beck and call.
It would be recalled that NEITI released empirical data of oil theft and losses way back 2009 and 2020 to the staggering figure of 619.7 million barrels of crude, valued at $46.16 billion or ₦16.25 trillion. In addition, Nigeria lost 4.2 billion litres of petroleum products from refineries, valued at $1.84 billion at the rate of 140, 000 barrels per day, from 2009 to 2018. Thus, the total value of crude losses between 2009 and 2020 is higher than the size of the country’s reserves and almost 10 times Nigeria’s oil savings in Excess Crude Account, NEITI said.
So, how long shall Nigeria continue to condone this self-seeking administration of our oil industry? It behoves this administration with a mantra of hope for the regeneration of a true Nigerian nation to rise to the questions posed by Senator Dickson as to “why a country like Nigeria that has been producing oil, exporting oil for the past 70 years does not have a scientific way of metering, recording what leaves, what is pumped, what is sold and what is not sold”.
The presidency’s inability to proffer answers to these questions will continue to keep Nigeria in a state of coma in her overall developmental strides, including her peace, unity and security.

• Braeyi Ekiye, Publisher, EnvironmentWatch, writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
• Phone/WhatsApp: +2349031594537
• Email: [email protected]
• Date: Wednesday, 3rd April, 2024.

01/04/2024

The families of Braeyi Ekiye of Adagbabiri community & late (Rtd) Capt. Joseph Etoloh of Agbere town, both in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State conducted the traditional marriage ceremony of their children, Kemebradikumo & Alamere Winnifred in Yenagoa on Friday, 29th March, 2024. To God be the glory. Here are some pictures of the proceedings during the Epochal event.

15/11/2023

NOV. 11 BAYELSA GUBER ELECTION: ADAGBABIRI COMMUNITY SHOWS THE WAY AGAIN
The common definition of ‘politics’, according to Wikipedia, is the activities associated with the governance of a country of area. Such activities that aim at improving the status of a people, communities, states or countries through elected political office holders.
Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states of Nigeria went through that electoral process last Saturday 11th November, 2023 to elect governors in their respective states.
Here in Bayelsa, political pundits predicted that incumbent Governor, Senator Douye Diri would win convincingly at the poll. And it came to pass. The prediction was premised on his administration’s performance bond in the areas of socio-economic and infrastructural development. Added to these are the relative peace and security that the state enjoys under Diri’s leadership and his zero tolerance to political violence, bloodletting, thuggery, and associated vices inimical to sustainable democratic governance.
Adagbabiri, a border community in the Sagbama local government area of the state had a good showing during last Saturday’s election in terms of display of peace, unity and security before, during and after the election. And their preferred candidate, incumbent Governor Diri. He had their overwhelming nod at the various polling units.
The community also showed commendable comradery among chieftains and members of opposing political parties during the election. Distinguished Sen. Emmanuel Diffa, Captain Matthew Karimo, and my humble self were at the community along with Mrs Christy Ebeli (nee Kentebe), PDP Woman Leader, Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Mr Tarekebi Egbide, Chairman, Toruabubo Rural Development Area (RDA) and Bishop Dotimi Egbegi. Together, they kept the peace for a free, fair and credible election in all the polling units, notwithstanding the various political parties they belong. The poll was carried out in a very peaceful and secured environment devoid of rancour and acrimony. The palpable synthesis of intellect, wisdom and native intelligence displayed by the community in the choice of preferred candidates by party members and the electorates, before, during and after the election was a delightful experience. Kudos must also be given to the dynamic Amadaowei of Adagbabiri, Chief Alaowei Okee and his council of Chiefs and citizens of the community for the successful voting exercise.
To the glory of God, incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri was declared the winner of the 11th November Governorship election in the State by INEC returning officer, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Minna on Monday, 13th November, 2023.

Photo Captions:
1. Incumbent Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri being captured by the BVAS camera at his Sampou polling unit during last Saturday’s guber election. To his left is his wife, Her Excellency, Dr Gloria Diri.
2. Governor Diri speaks to the press at Sampou, his home town after voting. To his right is his wife, Her Excellency, Dr Gloria Diri.
3. Braeyi Ekiye in a tete-a-tete with Captain Matthew Karimo, a political heavyweight during last Saturday’s voting exercise.
4. Mr. Tarekebi Egbide, Chairman, Toruabubo Rural Development Area (RDA) (right) and Braeyi Ekiye and Kembradikumo Ekiye at polling unit 16.
5. From left Kembradikumo Ekiye, Mrs Christy (nee Kentebe), PDP Woman Leader, Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Braeyi Ekiye, community leader and Bishop Dotimi Egbegi (in glasses) at polling unit 4.
6. Braeyi Ekiye with some of Adagbabiri community politically active youths.
7. Braeyi Ekiye, casting his vote at polling unit 3.

24/08/2023

NEITI PLANNED PROBE OF 13 PERCENT DERIVATION
By Braeyi Ekiye

That Nigeria is blessed beyond measure with oil, gas and solid minerals and agricultural resources is no news. The nation is endowed with such staggering resources for energy and food security to sustain her socio-economic growth and development and infrastructural transformation.

But the nation state Nigeria has unfortunately fell far short of the expectations of her citizens and the international community in effectively harnessing these resources for her advancement toward the alleviation of poverty.

It is estimated that Nigeria has about 38 billion barrels of crude reserves, One (1) trillion cubic metric of gas reserves while each of the 36 states and including the Federal Capital City (FCT) has one form of mineral deposit in commercial quantities. A nation that is greatly blessed, yet going cap in hand begging!!!

Even with Nigeria’s variegated rich resources, her poverty index and rating is alarming. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index Survey revealed that over 130 million Nigerians out her estimated 200 million population are in abject poverty, the NBS said the figure represents 63 percent of the nation’s population. This clearly shows the lack of imaginative and creative management of the rich and variegated mineral and agricultural resources of the country. This of course, is an indictment of her uninspiring leadership through time, bordering on lack of visionary and selfless managers of our financial and economic resources for the good of her citizens and their environment.

It will be pertinent to note here that the Chief Obafemi Awolowo led administration of the then Western Region of Nigeria in the sixties, through visionary, pragmatic and selfless leadership, brought about significant holistic development strides to the region with mind-blowing socio-economic growth, educational advancement and infrastructural transformation.

Chief Awolowo contributed a lot to the development of the Western region by introducing a good welfare system to his people. He accelerated an all-inclusive developmental profile in the areas of education, commerce and industry, hospitality business and real estate. His administration founded and built the first operational indigenous radio and television complex, the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (WNBC) in Ibadan, capital of the then Western region of Nigeria. Why have we not been able to replicate same and improve upon such great strides in modern Nigeria, even after the unfortunate Nigerian civil war (6th July, 1967 – 15th January, 1970) up until now?

The clear answer to this question is lack of visionary, selfless and pragmatic leadership. The likes of Chief Awolowo has regrettably gone with the wind with his sound governance mantra. It is unfortunate that the present crop of leaders are too engrossed in cutting corners to meet their insatiable appetites for ostentatious living at the expense of state and national treasuries and indeed, the people. No wonder, the lament of Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark in his recently launched book, BRUTALLY FRANK, which incisively dissected Nigeria’s leadership emotional romance with hydra-headed corruption which had held the nation hostage over time. This despicable trajectory is still the order of the day as you read this piece. Is Nigeria a cursed nation that she is unable to wriggle her way out of this quagmire she finds herself? Can we see that corruption and its twin sister, bad governance has stultified our efforts at enthroning good, equitable and just administration of state affairs? With this scenario, how can we be talking of transparency and accountability in governance? From the first republic to the immediate past General Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidency, Nigerians have continued to bemoan the lack of ethical and moral values in the effective communication of governance to the people. Our military rulers and their civilian counterparts have over time been accused of acts of corrupt practices. In fact, some of them were indicted, prosecuted and found guilty, both within Nigeria and overseas. There are many more who have been indicted and undergoing investigation and prosecution in our law courts. Yet, those indicted and being investigated are given the leeway to contest for public offices and be elected into high profile elective offices such as in State Assemblies, the National Assembly and even governorship slots. This is Nigeria for you. How then can corruption be fought, and fought decisively? The stench in the recent past arising from corruption allegations against officials of federal government agencies and parastatals, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), NIMASA, the federal Accountant General’s office etc attest to the fact that the current onslaught against corruption both in high and low places is a weak and feeble one.

Perharps, it would be safe to say that the NEITI’s current audacious move to probe the receipts and use of the 13 percent derivation fund to oil producing states of the Nigerian federation would prove to be abortive. That NEITI is just waking up from its deep slumber when issues of transparency and accountability have been flagrantly abused over the years by Extractive Industry managers calls to question the sincerity and seriousness of such probes and the usefulness it would serve in bringing to book those found culpable in the process. It is a disservice to the nation for NEITI not interrogating serious corruption cases in agencies under their watch for many years now for the enthronement of greater transparency and accountability in corporate governance.

For want of information, NEITI’s primary duty is to enthrone transparency and accountability in the management of payments made by Extractive Industries to government and revenues received by government and other statutory receipts.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global standard aimed at promoting the open and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources.

The aim is to further strengthen public and corporate governance, promote understanding of natural resource management, and provide data to inform reforms for greater transparency and accountability in the sector. EITI’s focus in this regard is supported by a coalition of government, companies and civil society across the world.

Nigeria’s EITI, NEITI, disturbed by what they describe as lack of adequate data and transparency in the management of the Derivation Fund, has decided to probe the receipts and disbursements of the monthly 13 percent derivation fund to the nine oil-producing states in the Niger Delta. Already, NEITI has the ready backing of the probe by Niger Delta stakeholders and civil society organisations. The probe, these stakeholders say, though coming late, is better late than never. In support of the probe, Ijaw National Congress (INC) President, Professor Benjamin Okaba advised NEITI to be thorough in the investigation in order to unveil the reasons why oil producing communities have remained underdeveloped in spite of the billions of naira that has accrued to them in the form of derivation.

Professor Okaba also advised NEITI to also probe all other distribution policies in Nigeria and not embark on selective and witch-hunting exercise. He declared: “The expectations should be that it should not be a witch-hunting exercise, but it should be objective. Let it not be targeted at categories of persons, but should be targeted at better performance.”

The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT) through its secretary, Sir Amorighoye Mene was more forthcoming with regards to NEITI’s planned probe of the Derivation Fund. Sir Mene said that the Delta State case was peculiar. He claimed that in the past eight years, the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), established to receive and utilize the derivation fund, on behalf of the oil-producing communities, suffered underfunding. The underfunding, according to him, was responsible for the high number of abandoned projects by DESOPADEC in the oil producing communities in the state.

He declared: “This probe of the utilization of the fund is long overdue because I can say authoritatively in the case of Delta State that the fund, as provided for in the Constitution, has not been put to proper judicious use.”

He frowned at the Delta State government’s enactment of law that provides fifty (50) percent of the derivation fund being retained by the state. “It is a great injustice to the oil producing areas. The entire fund ought to be channelled to the oil producing areas”, he said.

Representatives of CSOs in Akwa Ibom and Edo states, Harry Udoh and rights activist, Edokpayi respectively also expressed the same sentiments as to the abuse of the 13 percent derivation fund by state governments, describing the receipts and use of the fund by the governors of the nine oil-producing states as self-seeking and shrouded in secrecy.

The point to note in all of these is that state governments have overtime not used the 13 percent derivation fund accountably and for the purpose of providing the needed development of those impoverished oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta. Like headmasters with the big cane, they have gone about the disbursement of the fund in a manner that suggest our surrendering the future of these states to the whims and caprices of the governors.

From hindsight, I doubt what tangible result will come out of this probe as the Nigerian factor of wilful suppression of findings of past probe reports, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) marathon forensic audit and others have conclusively proved that point. These reports are still gathering dust in our rich and variegated archives clearly captioned: “ RIP. Corruption Probe Findings File”.

May we not yet embark on a wild goose chase in the name of NEITI 13 percent Derivation Fund Probe; the receipts and appropriate use of it for the supposed advancement of the impoverished Niger Deltans and their environment in the midst of plenty. Also, NEITI should beam its searchlight on the ‘Solid Minerals’ sector as recent revelations indicate that billions of dollars are lost to private illegal miners while Government and its supervising agencies look the other way and regrettably abandon their oversight functions.

No wonder Pa Edwin Clark came screaming recently in Abuja with his book: Brutally Frank. Indeed, Corruption in its different facets have held this nation state hostage. And until we decisively fight against this hydra-headed canker worm, such probes as NEITI’s will produce no meaningful result. It would be business as usual as nothing seem to point to the direction of a paradigm shift from past unholy corrupt practices in the administration of state and national affairs.

But then, there is a new ‘Sheriff’ in town – a new President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose record of fighting for democratic ethos gives renewed hope for a rebirth of the Nigerian nation of our dream. A nation where equity and justice prevails, and good governance hinged on transparency and accountability is sustained.

Braeyi C. Ekiye writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Telephone: 0903 159 4537; Whatsapp: 0909 477 4864
Email: [email protected]
Date: Thursday, 24th August, 2023.

EnvironmentWatch environpress

08/08/2025

04/04/2024

01/04/2024

15/11/2023

24/08/2023

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category