Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC Nigeria, has petitioned the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged frustration of anti-oil theft and illegal oil bunkering campaigns by the Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Michael Ogar.
YEAC Nigeria particularly accused the NSCDC Commandant in Rivers State of continuous frustration of federal government and President Muhammadu Buhari’s approved campaigns against crude oil theft, artisanal refineries and environmental management efforts in Rivers State and called for his immediate deployment.
Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Mr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, noted that the same Rivers NSCDC Commandant, was tortured and disgraced in Imo State by the Police over his unwholesome attitude, wondered why such a person was deployed to head a sensitive place like Rivers State.
Fyneface in the petition which is copied to the Commandant General of NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi and the Senate President, Ahmed Lawal, alleged that since the incumbent NSCDC Commandant was posted to Rivers State, he has been frustrating all efforts on advocacy and campaigns against oil theft.
The petition which is attached with several letters sent to the Rivers State Command of NSCDC, briefed the Minister of the group’s giant steps and contributions to the war against pipeline vandalism and oil theft in Rivers State and the Niger Delta region, which YEAC-Nigeria accused the NSCDC of trying to frustrate.
The petition reads in part, “This petition demands for the immediate redeployment of Mr. Michael Besong Ogar, NSCDC commandant from Rivers State for failing to perform his duties, abuse of office, embarrassing the NSCDC, casting the country’s image in bad light before international community by chasing foreigners from his office, continuous frustration of federal government and President Muhammadu Buhari approved campaign against crude oil theft, artisanal refineries and environmental management efforts in Rivers State.
“Since Mr. Ogar was posted to the Rivers State Command, he has been frustrating our efforts to partner with the NSCDC on this advocacy as he neither responds to letters sent to him requesting interviews nor allow us access to him and his office for official public engagement. He also does not grant permission to the Command’s PRO to speak to us as it has manifested on many occasions so far, and for which I am now complaining about in this petition and demanding for his redeployment for negligence of duty.
“For instance, on July 19, 2022, I sent a letter (please find a copy attached below) to the Rivers State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Ogar but till today, he has not responded to the letter therefore frustrating our advocacy efforts in the fight against oil theft in Rivers State and neglecting his duties. Again, on October 21, 2022, a 2-man research team from Dakar, Senegal sent a letter for me to submit to Mr. Ogar, requesting to interview him as part of their research work but he also did not reply to the letter till date.
“When I have waited endlessly for a response and none was coming, I personally went to his office on three occasions to remind him of the letter and request a response, but he refused to say anything useful till the team arrived in Nigeria for the interview with him on October 27. When we went with the foreign team to see him in his office, he denied us access through his Personal Assistant and walked us out of his office and the premises. It was a harvest of anger and frustration on our part on October 27 with the embarrassment of the foreigners with me and casting the country in bad light before the international community who left with bad impression about the NSCDC and the country about a public security officer.
“When this happened, I became very angry and decided that I was going to report this to you for your immediate action to redeploy Mr. Ogar so that I am not forced to mobilize youths, protest and block the NSCDC office in Port Harcourt till he is redeployed to stop him from continuous frustration of our government recognized and President Buhari’s supported efforts and task of contributing to the fight against oil theft in Rivers State.”
The petition said since there is no other security agency better positioned by law to collaborate and grant interviews on pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and artisanal refineries more than the NSCDC, YEAC-Nigeria has been working with the Corps for years, till Mr. Ogar’s high-handedness and anti-development postures started in Rivers State.
“Meanwhile, if Mr. Ogar wants to be paid by those who want to speak with him or interview him on the activities of NSCDC in Rivers State in the fight against pipeline vandalism and oil theft, he should tell us so and we will factor that into our budget and pay him to grant interviews to foreign journalists and researchers that the Federal Government have already issued visas and permits to come into the country and carry out their works.”
Fyneface who is also the National Facilitator, Project with Artisanal Crude Oil Refiners for Modular Refinery in the Niger Delta, also urged the Minister of Interior to redouble efforts to significantly reduce security threats, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, artisanal refining and associated environmental pollution in the Niger Delta region.
“The NSCDC and other government agencies and security formations under your Ministry charged with the responsibility security and wagging war against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and artisanal refining must not be tired of synergizing, collaborating and partnering with both genuine civil society organizations like YEAC-Nigeria and the media to keep the public informed about their commendable efforts.
“I look forward to your timely action to address this issue in the Rivers State Command of the NSCDC through your direct or indirect instructions to the Commandant General of the NSCDC to act on this matter and redeploy Mr. Ogar in the interest of peace and progress of NSCDC’s work in Rivers State.”
