Emerging report indicates that the amendment of a Bill to include Kogi, Lagos, Anambra, Gombe, and other States, among the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has on Wednesday, scaled through second reading at the Senate.
The Bill titled: “A bill for an Act to amend the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Act No 6, 2000 and for other related matters connected therewith, 2021”, was sponsored by Senator Adeola Solomon Olamilekan, representing Lagos West Senatorial District.
Senator Olamilekan in his lead debate submitted that the NDDC Act was activated over 21 years ago, and that since then, Oil and Gas have been discovered in Lagos, Kogi, Anambra, Gombe, Bauchi, and other States, hence, the amendment would offer an opportunity for the Act to capture peculiarities of the new Oil States.
In his contribution, Senator Ahmad Baba Kaita, representing Katsina North Senatorial District, having supported the amendment proposal, recalled how a former Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, told Senators previously, that Nigeria would become one of the largest Oil producers in the world, if Oil discoveries in the country are harnessed.
His exact words: “Thank you Mr. President, I remain Senator Ahmad Baba Kaita, Katsina North Senatorial District. Regarding the motion on the Oil-producing States, I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander. In a State like Borno, where Oil has been discovered, I remember the former Group Managing Director of NNPC arguing here that with such States coming on board, Nigeria will be one of the largest Oil producers, if we harness our resources.
“In this case, it is only fair for us to consider those States that produce Oil, because the exploration is going to affect the environment. The idea behind that motion is consequences of oil exploration.”
However, Senator George Thompson Sekibo urged the Senators to treat the amendment with caution.
He advised the Federal Lawmakers to find out if those States have started contributing to the Federation Account through their Oil, adding that exploration of Oil in commercial quantity is precedent, since the derivation sharing is based on the quantity of Oil produced
He said: “Mr. President, I congratulate these States where they said they have discovered Oil. What I want to know is whether they are of commercial quantity, and whether there are being drilled out now, and the money is going into the Federal government Account.
“We have not confirmed that one yet, but as Oil has been discovered there, we want the Oil to come out of every soil in Nigeria. Are they exploring the Oil? Are they refining Oil there, and has Oil caused devastation in those States.
“Mr. President, the purpose of the Niger Delta Development Commission Act is not because they found Oil there, but because the Oil has caused so much devastation, and there was a need to remedy the place.”
Senator Mathew Uroghide, representing Edo North Senatorial District, disagreed with the proposed amendment completely, stating that the NDDC Act is specifically meant to address environmental degradation of the Niger Delta region.
According to him, the inclusion of some Northern Oil States in the Act, will defeat the original intention of the Act.
He stated: “Thank you Mr. President, I am Senator Mathew Uroghide, representing Edo South Senatorial District. I consider it a privilege to contribute to a Bill being sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan. I am not particularly against the sponsor of the Bill, but I feel the Bill must be properly presented.
“Let us start with the name, “Niger Delta Development Commission”, NDDC. Today, the area that is referred to as Niger Delta is very clear. The States that make up the Niger Delta region that the Commission is serving is very clear.
“Senator George Thompson Sekibo just mentioned the 13% derivation which each Oil-producing States get which is a function of Oil production.
“Oil production in Gombe and Bauchi and other Northern States are already coming to a reality, but to take these States as the Niger Delta States is not right.
“But if there is any percentage for States that produce Oil, be it Sokoto, be in Borno, of course, they should benefit, but that does not make them part of Niger Delta. To say other Sates are part of the Niger Delta, makes a mockery of the original idea of the NDDC Act.
“The NDDC was created as an interventionist to mediate in degradation of the environment, due to Oil exploration.”
After further contributions by the Lawmakers, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, put the Bill to a voice vote, and it scaled through second reading.
A Public Hearing is expected to be conducted for a wider consultation preparatory for its final passage into Law.