A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Tuesday in Abakaliki called for accountability and transparency in the extractive industry of the nation’s economy.
The coalition, comprising 16 CSOs in a communique jointly signed but, read by Dr Kelechukwu Okezie, Executive Director, Neighbourhood Environment Watch (NEW) Foundation said that it was committed to ensuring transparent and accountable extractive and mining sector in Nigeria.
The coalition which operate under the aegis of ‘Publish What You Pay’ (PWYP), Nigeria, South East zone, noted that it was focused in addressing perceived unwholesome practices in the extractive industry especially in the South-East zone of the country.
The communique was titled, ‘DEMAND FOR CONTRACT TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY IN GAS FLARING AND COMMERCIALISATION PROJECTS IN THE SOUTH-EAST AND IMMEDIATE REMEDIATION OF ALL ASSOCIATED NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.’
The coalition noted that the Nigeria Gas Flaring and Commercialisation Project (NGFCP) in 2016 and the call for companies to apply and pay associated fees by the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), was an outcome of the consistent advocacy by the group.
The group described the activities of the defunct DPR now Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in the extractive industry as counterproductive, opaque and self serving.
“The communique read in part: ‘The coalition of civil society organisations working in the extractive sector has decried the lack of accountability and transparency in the ongoing Gas flaring and commercialisation project in states in the South East.
“As CSOs, we will not stand idly by, while our natural resources and the environment are exploited without proper oversight and accountability, maximally benefiting our people and the host communities.
“We urge state governors of Abia; Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo states and indeed all public officials and elected leaders from the zone at various legislative levels to join in demanding contract accountability and transparency in gas flaring and commercialisation.
“We also call on all concerned citizens in the South-East, to join in demanding contract transparency and accountability, especially in the gas flaring and commercialisation projects in the region.
“We believe that by working together, we shall ensure that the extractive sector benefits their host communities, the citizens, the environment, the region, and Nigeria at large.
“Therefore, we demand that the Federal Government and relevant Ministries/Agencies provide a clear and comprehensive breakdown of all financial transactions, contracts, and agreements related to the gas flaring and commercialisation projects in Imo, Abia and Anambra states.
“We call on the Federal Government through the relevant Federal Ministries to conduct a thorough review of all contracts and agreements related to the projects to identify any irregularities or potential conflicts of interest.
“We call for the public presentation of all environmental audits carried out by extractive companies in the region in the past five years and strategies for decommissioning projects at the end of their extractive operations.
“This is to ensure that the environment of the areas is sustainable and befitting for future generations.
“We are demanding that the government establisha robust monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure that projects in the region are implemented in accordance with international best practices and standards.
” No doubt, transparency and accountability are essential for ensuring that the gas flaring and commercialization projects benefit our communities and the environment.” ENDS//
