FG To Build Modular Refineries—Osinbajo
Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo yesterday promised that the Federal Government would build modular refineries in all the oil producing communities in country.
At a town hall meeting in Umuahia as part of the talks with Niger Delta states which Abia is one, Osinbajo explained that when such refineries were allowed to be established that Asa community in Ukwa West council area of the states must be a beneficiary.
According to Osinbajo, President Muhammadu Buhari administration was determined to ensure that those who are from oil producing areas of the country should be able to see and benefit from the natural resources from their area.
He said that it was regrettable that the communities which produce oil from where the country earns its greater revenue, that such benefits are not reflected.
“The high level of degradation people in the oil producing communities have suffered is not new in the country; however, we are determined to change the way things are done so that people from such communities can benefit.
“I want to use this opportunity to commend the elders, traditional rulers and youth leaders of the Asa community for the matured way they have been handling the issue of youth restiveness and I want to assure you that your community will be rewarded.
“I also want to assure you that the issue of appointing a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be looked into including that of Ondo State which does not have a board member as well.
“The Federal Government will ensure that all abandoned projects started by NDDC in the area must be completed, while the issue of unemployment which is a pressing problem facing the country is being battled with N-Power programme,” the Vice President said.
In his welcome speech the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu said that he was taking the blame for not taking the VP to Asa to see things for himself, stressing that doing so would not enable him to know the problems of the people. On the issue of amnesty, Ikpeazu said that he was aware that no single Abian is a beneficiary of the programme,
“What happened to the adviser on Niger Delta and coordinator of amnesty programme Gen Paul Boro shows that no person from the state has benefited from the programme.” The Vice President was earlier conferred with a Chieftaincy title of: ‘Enyioha,’ a friend of the people by the traditional rulers of the state when he paid them a courtesy call at their secretariat before the town hall meeting.
