By Charles Adegbite and Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government has, again, appealed to members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to stop bombing oil facilities in the state, saying their activities have adversely affected its economy.
Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Gboribiogha Jonah, who stated this during the monthly transparency briefing in Yenagoa, lamented that dwindling allocation to the state was caused by decreased in oil production.
Jonah announced that in the month of March, the state received N1.384 billion from federal allocations after all deductions from repayment of bond, overpayment on oil wells and loans making it the lowest in six months.
He said Bayelsa is the worst hit as three major oil facilities had been affected by the activities of the NDA.
“We have had security situation in the Niger Delta. Experts have predicted that our production would further fall. A lot of disruption has happened. The future is not bright. Every Bayelsan is sharing the pain. The militants have hit trunk oil and gas lines in Escravos, Teibidaba and Nembe Trunk lines and it has affected Bayelsa State nagatively. This is why we are appealing to the militants to stop the bombing because aside the ecological damage, it has reduced the earnings and it is affecting Bayelsans and the people of the Niger Delta. We have to find a way to explore dialogue.”
Jonah explained that his boss, Seriake Dickson is still committed to the agreement it reached with labour unions in the state to pay 50 per cent of the salaries.
According to him, though the federal allocation won’t be enough to pay the agreed salaries, the state government is seeking alternative means to get funds to pay.
In his explanation, Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Daute Iyabi said the state had no option than to drive its Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) with payment of taxes hitherto ignored by the people.
“We have to improve the drive for tax. We are not going to tax the people to death, but some taxes have to be paid,” he said.
In an interview, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite called for understanding of Bayelsans on the financial crisis the state has found itself.
Also, Minister of Environment, Aisha Mohammed has described the blowing up of oil installations by members of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) as destroying their people and environment unknowingly.
The minister disclosed this yesterday when she spoke on the challenges of cleaning up Ogoniland and other parts of Niger Delta on Channels Television programme Sunrise Daily.
The NDA has launched several attacks on oil and gas installations since February 2016, demanding a sovereign nation of the Niger Delta people.
According to the minister, blowing up oil installations was not only criminal but its impact on the environment cannot be quantified.
The minister disclosed that over 60 percent of the pollution in the Niger Delta was third party breaks.
“It is criminal. People coming from the outside are not doing this; but people in the area are doing this to themselves.
“This is not a short-term wound, this is a very deep wound because when you open up oil to your environment, it takes decades to get that back.”
The minister then called on the militants to come to the table and dialogue, “because the alternative that you have chosen is a wrong path for you, your future and your environment,” she added.