We are deeply disturbed by what appears as the renewal of conflict in the Niger Delta between the so-called militants and the armed forces after over seven years of peace and calm in our oil-rich region.
On Friday January 15, shortly after a Lagos High Court presided by Justice Ibrahim Buba ordered the arrest of Chief Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) for failure to appear before him in a case of fraud and stealing of N34 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), militants blew up pipelines in Escravos in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The damage done to the gas pipelines which belong to the Nigeria Gas Company has affected the flow of gas to electricity power plants and prevented the flow of crude oil to refineries in Warri and Kaduna. The Federal Government says that the damage has led to the loss of N79 million daily of crude oil. In addition, it will cost N120 million to repair the damaged pipelines before normal power generation can be restored.
The armed forces and security agencies are on a manhunt for the culprits, with the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Pulo Shield Commander, Major General Alani Okunlola, warning that community leaders and chiefs would be held responsible for attacks on oil and gas facilities in their areas.
Coming at a time the nation is reeling from the free-fall of oil prices due to oil glut in the international market, any upsurge in militancy in the Niger Delta will greatly affect efforts to repair our damaged economy. Certainly, it is bound to thwart the grand intentions of the 2016 national budget which will depend heavily on oil and gas revenues to be successfully implemented.
Apart from the economic implications, Nigeria cannot afford to engage a new front for military confrontation just when victory against Islamist insurgency appears to be in sight in the North East. We cannot afford to keep spending our lean resources on security operations while we face daunting challenges in high unemployment, infrastructure deficit, educational backwardness and outbreaks of infectious diseases which need lots of financial resources to solve.
We plead with all Nigerians to cooperate with the Federal Government in its efforts to recover stolen public funds and rein in the scourge of corruption. It is in the greater interest of individuals and that of the nation at large to obey the law and answer to allegations of criminal conducts.
We are against any resort to militancy. It will only delay, but not stop, the course of justice. It will lead to avoidable human suffering and expensive environmental devastation in the region. No one can benefit from it.
