Mkpoikana Udoma 07 June 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Rivers State House of Assembly has accused the Federal Government of insincerity, bias and being unfair to the people of Niger Delta in the issuance of licences for the operation of modular refineries.
The Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Mr. Christian Ahiakwo, alleged that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has issued 56 licences for the building and operation of modular refineries in the Niger Delta without any person from the oil -rich region getting any of the licences.
Speaking in Port Harcourt ahead of the Environmental Summit slated for June 13 and 14, 2017, Ahiakwo further alleged that the current administration issued the licences nine days after its inception in 2015.
“As we speak, the Federal Government has given 56 companies licences to own and operate modular refineries, but none of these companies belong to any person from Niger Delta. Nobody from Niger Delta was issued a licence.
“The licences were issued nine days after the inception of the current administration. What I would say is that they (Federal Government) have not been fair to us. We are talking of the 56 licences the present administration issued,” he said.
On the forthcoming Port Harcourt Environmental Summit, he explained that the event would provide a platform for stakeholders to review environmental issues in Rivers State.
Ahiakwo, who is the chairman of the summit, pointed out that the outcome of the event would lead to a bill on environmental pollution that would be passed into law, adding that security agencies, industry magnates, key business leaders and bigwigs in government will be part of the summit.