Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has berated the Federal Government for failing to prepare oil-bearing communities in Bauchi and Gombe states for potential environmental and health impacts of oil exploration.
The position of the civil society organisation (CSO) followed an interactive meeting it had with communities in Alkaleri Local Council of Bauchi on February 28, 2024, where the locals had the opportunity of learning about oil impact in the Niger Delta and environmental issues that are likely to arise in the North due to discovery of oil in commercial quantity.
While lamenting the growing friction between two communities in the two states over ownership of the oil wells, the residents also decried growing insecurity in the region.
The Federal Government, in October 2019, announced that it had found one billion barrels of oil reserves and 500 billion cubic feet of gas within the Kolmani river area of Gombe and Bauchi states. The oil fields (OPL 809 and 810) that are to be developed by Sterling Global Oil, Northern Nigeria Development Commission (NNDC) and Nigerian National Petroleum
Company Limited (NNPCL), have attracted an investment of $3 billion, marking a journey of oil exploration in northern Nigeria.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the exploration on November 22, 2022.
The euphoria that dogged the announcement has, however, not been matched with the anticipated engagement of the locals to forestall recurrence of the crisis in the Niger Delta.
RDI Project Officer, IfeoluwaAdediran, said: “It is quite unfortunate that after the fanfare of the government’s announcement of crude oil exploration in the North, no serious on the ground engagement has happened. Instead, the government is still deceiving the locals with the benefits of oil exploration.
“The Niger Delta is the classic example of what oil can do to people and the environment. The discovery of oil along the boundary lines of Bauchi and Gombe states has already created friction and tension among the host communities claiming ownership of oil wells and will increase land grabs and insecurity in these formerly peaceful communities.”
Adediran explained that the interactive was an eye-opener, as the locals spoke frankly about how the political elite had started creating conflict among the once peaceful communities aside growing land grabs and the influx of strange people in their communities, all interested in what oil would bring.
According to her, RDI is determined to work with grassroots organisations in the state to deepen their understanding and that of the host communities on issues around their rights and the likely fallout of oil exploration, including gas flaring, on their lives and livelihoods.
“We will work with them to ensure they learn from the mistakes of the Niger Delta, where oil has become a curse. They must not be unnecessarily enthusiastic about the promised benefits of oil. Instead, the focus should be on how they can mobilise to ensure they determine what happens in their environment,” she added.
