*I know he’ll represent us well – Nmah
By Victor Lewis
Member representing the Isoko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jonathan Ukodhiko has called on the Federal Ministries of Power, Petroleum Resources, and other relevant Agencies, to compel oil companies operating in Isoko land not only to stop gas flaring, but to convert the generated gas to provide electricity for the people of the area who have suffered neglect and darkness for more than six decades of oil exploration and exploitation by the Federal Government.
Ukodhiko expressed this in a motion he sponsored and moved on the floor of the green chambers titled “Need to Compel Oil and Gas Companies to Stop Gas Flaring and Convert Same to Provide 24-hour Electricity to Isoko Communities and Environs”. He stressed that, having suffered the adverse effects of oil and gas exploration and exploitation for well over six decades, the Isoko ethnic nationality has not witnessed any form of infrastructural development from the federal government, adding that the people continue to wallow in abject poverty and perpetual darkness.
Moving the motion which was seconded by a member representing Ibarapa North, Ibarapa Central Federal Constituency, Hon. (Dr) Anthony Adebayo Adekpoju from Oyo State. Ukodhiko noted that Isoko land has been a major contributor to the wealth of the country, adding that it has been a major producer of gas which has been flared away over the past six decades.
He called for the support of the motion to compel the oil companies to stop the flaring of gas in Isoko land and convert same to provide electricity for the community.
Arguing his motion further, Hon. Ukodhiko said: “With the environmental hazards of gas flaring resulting to the humongous revenue loss, there is an urgent need to compel the oil and gas companies to activate their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) and provide electricity to the Communities in Isoko land from the flared gas through gas turbines by taking advantage of the recent Electricity Act of 2023.
“The volume of gas being flared has devastating effects on the lives and property of the Isoko host communities ranging from various ailments associated with the smoke-polluted environment to corrosion that destroys roofing sheets and poor agricultural output as a result of intense heat on the environment.
“In spite of the huge contributions to the oil and gas wealth of the nation with attendant environmental and health hazards, Isoko federal constituency has been in a total blackout, though the electricity can be easily tapped from the wasted gas resources.”
The motion which was adopted by the House was referred to the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation.
Commending the national lawmaker for sponsoring and moving such a strategic motion meant to attract development to the Isoko nation, the chairman of Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA), Mr Paul Nmah eulogized him, adding that he was very confident that Hon. Ukodhiko will do the Isoko nation and indeed, the entire state proud.
According to the DIDA chairman, he said he can vouch for the capacity and character of the national lawmaker, adding that ” I worked closely with him when he was the Commissioner for Energy in the last dispensation and I am confident that he will do well as a lawmaker, he is not even up to a month in the house but he has started performing.”
Nmah noted that “Ukodhiko will offer proper and very effective representation to the people of his federal Constituency and beyond.”
While soliciting the unwavering support of the people to the national lawmaker, Hon. Nmah, thanked him immensely for his commitment to the betterment of his people.
“I worked closely with him when he was the Commissioner for Energy in the last dispensation and I am confident that he will do well as a lawmaker, he is not even up to a month in the house but he has started performing.
“I want to urge Deltans to continue to rally round and give Hon. Ukodhiko all the support that he needs to succeed and give our people effective representation”, he concluded.
It would be recalled that the Isoko nation which plays host to at least six oil mining licenses namely to wit: OML 26, OML 28, OML 30, OML 56 & OML 6 for over six decades have been marginalized by the federal and state governments and even oil and gas companies operating in the area.
They have reasonably complained about short changing in terms of appointments at the national level. The Isoko people have also complained of dearth of infrastructural development including electricity even when oil companies in the area flare off millions of cubic of gas daily from the several oil wells in production in the area.
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