A group, the South-South Revolutionary Coalition (SOSORC) has said the multi- billion Naira oil facility and surveillance contracts that was awarded to ex-Niger-Delta agitators is not beneficial to the collective wellbeing and development of the South-South people.
According to the group, whatever settlement, amnesty, understanding and resolution reached by the ex-Niger Delta militant leaders and the federal government is not binding on the modern youths of the South-South region.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, in Tuesday, the convener of the group, Cicero Afure Esq, urged the federal government to address the problems of oil spillage, environmental degradation and provide compensation for the damages suffered, due to oil exploration.
The group also demanded that federal government as matter of urgency developed and re-open the seaports in Delta, Rivers and other parts of the South-South region to enhance job creation, meaningful youths engagement and economic development of the people.
Afure says it disagree with the current 13% derivation provided for the oil producing states.
“We demand for true federalism, equitable distribution of the nation resources and reiterate the agitation for resource control as advocated for by the 1999 league of Niger-Delta Governors,” he said.
He condemns all forms of illegal oil bunkering by oil and gas mafias, urging the federal government to mandate all multinationals and Indigenous Oil Companies operating in the Niger-Delta to relocate their operational and administrative headquarters to the Niger-Delta region.
He said, “SOSORC urges the federal government to mandate all multinationals and Indigenous Oil Companies operating in the Niger Delta region to carry out effective and meaningful corporate social responsibilities programs that will enhance human capital and infrastructural development of the host communities.
“Much has not been done to address the plight & marginalization of the south-south people, however, we commend Mr. president for the establishment of South-South Development Commission (SSDC), we demand for youths representation in the commission.”
Speaking further, Afure declared that the NDDC has failed in its mandate, asking the federal government to its mandate and other intervention agencies.
“We demand that the federal government should review the activities of the NDDC, PAP and other intervention body of the region to reflect the current needs of the people and end the politicization of NDDC and all other Niger-Delta intervention bodies by engaging accountable and professional personalities, not unaccountable political party agents, to implement the developmental programs of the agencies for the interests of the people and not for the benefits of few political party members,” he said.
He added that SOSORC will resort to any legitimate means to pursue its demands if government fails to meet them.
“Failure of the government to timely address the above mentioned demands will result to taking any necessary legitimate means available to us to further the pursuit of our agitations against the federal government of Nigeria and the multi-national oil companies that has exposed the youths and people of the south-south to poverty and hunger in the means of abundance of wealth and resources being exploited from us,” he said.