Yemisi Izuora
The federal government is now taking genuine steps toward resolving crises in the Niger Delta and also boost the oil and gas sector.
The move is supported by the guideline just released by the National Council on Hydrocarbons today.
The guidelines provides basis on how to review, strengthen and initiate robust policies for the oil and gas sector.
The guidelines, contained in a communique issued by the Ministry of a Petroleum Resources, highlights 29 needs to aid the development of the sector and the Niger Delta region.
President Muhammadu Buhari had previously given approval for the resuscitation of the National Council on Hydrocarbons after a Federal Executive Council meeting on Oct. 5, 2016.
The Council, which is to act as an ombudsman that meets once a year at extraordinary times to review policies in the sector, processed a total of 36 Memoranda for considerations.
Part of the needs adopted in the communique includes: ”the need for the use of metrics and measures to calibrate remediated and regenerated polluted areas.
”The need for relevant Agencies to streamline all environmental regulatory roles in the industry and integrate host communities into their business models in order to encourage the protection of oil and gas facilities.
”The need for operators to deploy efficient technological innovations that would reduce gas flares emissions.
”The relevant agencies should utilise the existing framework to enhance collaboration for effective monitoring of environmental pollution.
”The need to enforce environmental regulations that oblige operators to restore the environment back to status quo”.
The document also pointed out the need for relevant government agencies to acquire specialised equipment for the Armed Forces to operate effectively in the Niger Delta area.
It said there was also need for the stakeholders to maintain adequate supply chain of petroleum products in the riverine areas.
The meeting held on Nov. 22, 2016, had in attendance the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, legislators, commissioners from the oil producing and exploration states, security services, international oil companies among others.
The next meeting is scheduled to hold in Akwa Ibom in the third quarter of 2017, and in Cross River by the second quarter of 2018.