WE WILL STOP BUNKERING, VANDALISM IN NIGER DELTA CREEKS – GROUP

By NBF News

A group, the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, has vowed to curtail the spate of pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta, particularly in Delta State. National Co-ordinator Comrade Sheriff Mulade, who gave the assurance when he addressed journalists in Warri, described the scourge as a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of the society, stressing that it must be wiped out completely.

He said the region, especially the Delta State axis must not be venue for miscreants whose interest is to enrich themselves at the detriment of the suffering masses.

He observed that the nation has lost great fortune through pipeline vandalization, sea piracy and lately kidnapping which according to him, has not only affected the economy but the region's corporate image.

On kidnapping, Mulade also a peace Ambassador, promised to mobilize communities along the coastal line and security outfits to fight the problem, insisting that the nation's battered economy must be redeemed.

On the oil sector, the forum co-ordinator lauded the approval of the much-talked about local content and called on the Federal Government to prevail on multi-nationals to adjust strictly to the system in order to empower community people who do not have the equipment and the required materials to actualize it.

'If we are empowered gradually most of the communities will meet up with the requirement. In fact, we have capable hands to handle any job given to indigenous contractors'. He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for de-emphasizing the need for foreign contractors because indigenous contractors do most of the construction jobs such as pipeline works.

Consequently, the group co-ordinator pleaded with the Federal Government to allow local contractors carry out various jobs in the oil sector.

Comrade Mulade described pipeline vandalism as one of the greatest problems confronting the Niger Delta, adding that most people believe that the only way to get government attention is through the vandalization of oil pipelines.

'Sadly, perpetrators of pipeline vandalization do not know that destruction to pipelines automatically affects our entire livelihood. Therefore, the youths should stop vandalizing pipelines and should not be doing this wicked act under the guise of fighting for freedom'.

He lamented the continued flaring of gas in the country, pointing out that in other parts of the world, gas flaring has stopped.

He also urged Nigerian Government to initiate measures to stop gas flaring.