03 February 2014, Abuja – Delta Government says it will embark on advocacy campaigns to oil producing communities to curb increasing incidence of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering in the state.
The Commissioner in charge of Oil and Gas Directorate in the state, Mr Mofe Pirah, stated this on Friday in Asaba while defending the directorate’s 2014 budget before the Finance and Appropriation Committee of the House of Assembly.
Pirah said that advocacy against oil theft and other unwholesome acts in the oil and gas operations in the state would be a critical assignment of the directorate this year.
He also said that the ministry would intensify efforts at monitoring of oil and gas production as well as other investments in the sector.
Pirah expressed regret that the directorate had only N1.9 million to discharge the responsibility monthly in 2013.
He therefore appealed to the committee to increase the monthly monitoring subvention to N25 million in 2014 to enable it carry out the assignment effectively.
Pirah also disclosed that the directorate was making efforts to engage stakeholders in the area in dialogue aimed at creating peaceful environment for investors and operators in the oil and gas industry in the state.
He said that the state government had recorded successes in resolving conflicts between oil and gas companies and host communities, noting that the effort was to further stimulate investment in the state.
In his reaction, Chairman of the House Committee, Mr Daniel Mayuku, assured the directorate of the Assembly’s support.
He promised that adequate funds would be appropriated to the directorate to enable it to pursue its goals for the year.
– NAN
