The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Federal Ministries of Power, Petroleum Resources and other relevant Agencies to compel all Oil and Gas companies engaged in flaring gas within the Isoko North and South Federal Constituency as a matter of urgency to convert gas flared into electricity for the benefit of the host communities in compliance with the PIA Act and the deadline for the stoppage of gas flaring in Nigeria.
The House also mandates the Committee on Legislative Compliance when constituted to ensure the implementation of the motion.
The House made the call at plenary following the unanimous adoption moved by member representing Isoko North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Jonathan Ukodhiko and seconded by member representing Ibarapa North, Ibarapa Central Federal Constituency, Hon. (Dr) Anthony Adebayo Adekpoju from Oyo State.
In the motion titled “Need to Compel Oil and Gas Companies to Stop Gas Flaring and Convert same to 24-hour Electricity to Isoko Communities and Environs”, Ukodhiko called on the House to direct relevant Federal Government Ministries and agencies to enforce the implementation of the prayers in the motion to convert gas flared to consumable electricity for the communities to curb pollution, drive economic development, prevent environmental hazards, observing that the volume of gas being flared has devasting effects on the lives and properties of the Isoko people and Deltans.
He said in spite of the huge contributions made by the Isoko Host Communities to the oil and gas wealth of the nation with its attendant environmental and health hazards, Isoko Federal Constituency has been in a total blackout without electricity that can be easily tapped from the wasted gas resources.
Ukodhiko said the motion had become imperative especially as staff of these International Oil Companies and other oil and production companies working in Isoko land live in extravagant comfort with 24-hour electricity generated internally for operational bases and residential areas while the host communities and their environs live in squalor, watching helplessly the opulent lifestyle of the companies with their only offence being host communities to their oppressors- the oil companies.
Expressing concern at the deliberate refusal by the oil and gas companies and the successive administrations to permanently tackle the infrastructural deficit like electricity which could have been easily generated from the wasted gases over the years, he explained this made Isoko land as well as other communities in the Niger Delta become a hotbed region for protests and agitations that have sometimes crippled the economy and loss of precious human lives.
While an amendment, raised by Babajide Benson (Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos), requested the need to set up an investigative hearing on why gas is flared instead of it being converted to electricity.
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Olumide Osoba Abeokuta North/ Obafemi- Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency claims it was a duplication of a previous motion into gas flaring
But the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, in a swift response, clearly stated that the motion moved by Hon. Ukodhiko was a very serious issue specific to the Isoko Federal Constituency and its communities.
When Hon. Ukodhiko was asked by the Speaker if he would stand down and go along with the previous ad-hoc committee set up on gas flaring, Hon. Ukodhiko said it does not stop the ad-hoc committee from carrying out its assignment adding that the matter on the motion directly affects his constituents whom he represents, and so, therefore, standing it down will be injustice to the Isoko community.
The House adopted the motion with an amendment to include Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency and referred the matter to the Committee on Legislative Compliance, in addition to Gas, Power and Environment Committee for compliance and implementation.
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