The House of Representatives said on
Thursday that it was in support of any action taken so far by the
Federal Government to contain the rising attacks on oil pipelines in the
Niger Delta by the Niger Delta Avengers. Now I wonder if this is a right move.
Attacks on oil installations lately have
reportedly resulted in a drop of daily crude oil production output from
2.2 million barrels to less than 1.5mbpd.
The government responded to the development by deploying soldiers in the Niger Delta creeks in a bid to quell the attacks.
Speaking on the development at the
National Assembly on Thursday, the Chairman, House Committee on Media
and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, said the House was in support
of the government’s actions.
Namdas applauded the role of the
military in all the flashpoints of the country like the North-East,
where men and equipment had been deployed to bring escalating security
situations under control. The Punch reports that Namdas stated, “We are very comfortable with what the Federal Government is doing.
“We will support the government to go ahead with what they are doing. We hope very soon, this issue will be resolved.”
Namdas hinted that the House Committee
on Defence had also concluded a tour of the Niger Delta to assess the
security situation of the area, adding that the committee would soon
submit a report on its findings to the House.
The attacks had also been partly blamed
for the decline in electricity supply in the country, owing to
disruption of gas installations that power generation plants.
But in plenary, the House summoned the
Minister of Power/Works/Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), to appear
before lawmakers to explain why the power situation had worsened in
recent times.
The House also summoned power generation
companies, distribution companies, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity
Trading Company and other stakeholders in the power sector to give their
perspectives on the matter.
A member from Edo State, Mr. Johnson
Agbonayinma, while moving a motion on the subject, recalled that as of
2015, power generation stood around “4,000 megawatts.”
Agbonayinma, who expressed concern that
investors were relocating from the country due to poor power supply,
added that he could not understand why generation was now below “1,500
megawatts” in a post-privatisation era.
“The Minister of Power, Gencos, Discos
and all the other stakeholders; they should come and explain what is
happening,” he stated.
The motion was endorsed in a majority voice vote at the session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.
In a separate resolution, the House
mandated the Committees on Human Rights, National Security and
Intelligence to investigate the May 30 clash between security forces and
members of the Independent People of Biafra in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The House observed that “unarmed
civilians” were killed during the clash, advising the Federal Government
to adopt a “more efficient mechanism for engagement with all aggrieved
elements that threaten our homeland security and the territorial
integrity of our sovereignty.”
It was the Deputy Minority Leader of the
House, Mr. Chukwuka Onyeama, who moved a motion on the killings under
matters of urgent public importance.
Onyeama hails from Ogbaru Federal Constituency of the state, which is on the bank of the River Niger close to Onitsha.
Part of the motion read, “The House is
concerned that in spite of the outcry, investigations and wide
condemnation of this trend, there seems to be no cessation of same.
“Aware that the rights to freedom of
association, expression and peaceful assembly are enshrined in the
constitution of our great country, Nigeria;
“Further aware that the rule of law and
respect for rights of citizens are cardinal ingredients for the survival
of our democracy and consolidation on our democratic gains.”
