This is an abysmal figure compared to the hign environmental impact that the people of Nigeria Delta suffers and the need for drastic infrastructural development in the region.
This, is a big challenge and trend for the government to reverse.It is concerned to move the deplorable statistics where the benefits are realised outside the country and make the investment more meaningful to the local people.To improve not only the national economy but improve the life of the people and the environment.
President of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua,who was represented by the minister of state for Energy[Petroleum] made this known as he declared open the first Niger Delta oil and gas conference in the country,on the 10th July,2008,which held in the oil rich capital of Port Harcourt.The conference theme was “ Increasing Local Participation in the Nation’s oil and Gas industry,obstacles,issues and recommended strategies”.
He said that decree 8 of 1996 that established the Onne/Ikpo-kiri oil and Gas Free Zone has been justified.The Free Zone is now the fastest and largest oil and gas centre in West Africa.The Free Zone accommodates almost all the active companies in the sector.It provides facilitate for marine transportation of oil and gas, give guide to local material sourcing as well as co-ordinating associated activities.
President YarAdua said that Niger Delta would be given a special attention it deserves to sustain the oil and gas sector as it provides the reguired logistic support bases to position Nigeria in the rising deep off shore operartion competition as posed by Ghana,Angola and Sao Tomi, who are striving to take over the lead of the off shore oil drilling business.
The government has also released one hundred and fifty million naira to revamp the Petroleum Training Institute at Efuru, Delta State,to position it to train the manpower need in the sector.About three thousand five hundred engineers are also needed between now and 2012,plus ten thousand weilders are also needed.All these he said are some prospect that the sector presents.
Government is ready to implement the local content policy which will harness partnership among stakeholders and to allow for share contracts among indegenous players.
Government said it would create favourable conditions that would break the barriers that make it difficult for indegenous participation, curb capital flight,create more jobs, build infrastructure and capacity in the Niger delta region .
While the gains of the oil and Gas is well implored to diversify the economy, peace must be build to stop the loss of about six hundred and twenty five barrels of oil per day which amounts to about eight billion dollars per day.
The President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, industry,mines and agriculture,Prince Billy Gillis Harry said Port Harcourt has been admitted into the World Energy City Partnership.
This makes Rivers State an acclaimed growing economy and investment destination.This position places Port Harcourt third to Luanda and Equatorial Guinea.He urged the Federal Government to lay the foundation for equal participation of all stakeholders including the indegenous people who are willing to invest in the sector .
He said the solution to stop the crisis that has come to be noted with the region will be solved , not with political solution but a genuine demonstration of commitment to effect positive change.
The chairman of the occasion and Amayanabo of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State,King Alfred Diette-Spiff said there is an urgent need to converge a forum that would discuss the issues in Niger Delta,to marshal the needs,prioritize,compile them for the national assembly to deliberate on them in order to give it a legal status.Such legal stance would make the articulated plans and actions enforceable by law
