House of Rep Member Wants Oil Companies To Relocate To States Of Operations

A motion seeking for the relocation of headquarters of oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria and its regulators to states where they have dominant operations as sponsored by member representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, Hon. Dr. Farah Dagogo from Rivers State is before the House of Representatives.

According to a statement from his special assistant on media, Ibrahim Lawal to Crystal Express, the motion has been submitted to the leadership of the House alongside another motion, urging the Federal Government to liberalize investment in solid minerals.

The statement also explained that the motion on relocation is fundamental as it would afford the oil companies and its regulators first-hand information of obnoxious and heinous policies they have done on oil bearing communities and states that now languish with devastation resulting from oil exploration activities.

He expressed deep concerns that the activities of the oil companies have not only been detrimental to the environment where they operate but have also exposed the inhabitants of the affected communities and states to damaging health hazards.

“Sadly, they have relocated their operational headquarters from these areas where they have committed loads of atrocities to supposed safe havens. Revenues, job employments, tax applicable to the states and other benefits that could be used to assuage those affected by these practices are rather hosted in cities far from their exploitations. As a representative of those affected by these injustices, they have asked me to speak and I have started the process and I’m confident my colleagues in the House will key into it because it is all about the people,” the statement read in parts.

He further explained that the motion on liberalizing investment in solid minerals would enable the country to not only diversify from its mono economy status but create employment and revenues that could be a solution to the frequent borrowing to run the country’s budget.

“As a member of the National Assembly, it is our duty to also speak for Nigerians. This is about the people; the people come first before political parties. That is what the motion on the need for the Government to liberalize investment in solid minerals is all about. Our focus should not be on only oil, we have gold, coal, iron ore, limestone, Bitumen and several others. If we tap from all of these, there will be supersonic economy boom. Massive employments, large scale investments and most fundamental, the incessant recourse to taking loans to finance our budget will be fully addressed”, he assured.

Regulators of the oil and gas expected to be affected by the relocation include, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), The Products and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC), and Nigerian Petroleum Exchange (NIPEX).