Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Niger Delta Congress, has criticized the Federal Government for covertly granting resource control to Zamfara State, through the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative, PAGMI.
Under the PAGMI scheme, the Central Bank will be purchasing gold that has been mined, processed and refined under the PAGMI scheme, for use as part of Nigeria’s external reserves.
PAGMI is an artisanal and small-scale gold mining development scheme, launched in 2019 to formalized and integrate artisanal gold mining activities into Nigeria’s legal and economic framework.
Speaking at the 25th memorial of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s death and launching of Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Park, the Acting President of Niger Delta Congress, Mr. Saatah Nubari, wondered why only a section of the country was granted resource control.
Nubari regretted that Ogoni nine were executed for demanding resource control, while principal officers of Sani Abacha’s regime, are now sectionalizing the country with lopsided resource control policy.
He charged the Federal Government to exonerate Ken and Ogoni nine, while condemning that planned moves by the Federal Government to recommence oil exploration activities in Ogoniland.
“This Government through PAGMI has given the people of Zamfara State the power to control the solid mineral resources in their land and the Niger Delta people are silent.
“The man who initiated the PAGMI initiative is Ibrahim Gambari; for those who don’t know him, Gambari is the same man, who, during Sani Abacha’s regime referred our heroes as common criminals.
“But today, the same man has given to Northern Nigeria the same right, which the Ogoni nine were fighting and killed for.
“We are saying, exonerate Ken Saro-Wiwa. No to oil exploration in Ogoniland. We have been silent for the past 25years and Ken said, silence in the face of oppression is treason.”
