The Host Community of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCON , has called on the Federal Government to release the 13 percent derivation fund to the host communities producing oil and gas in the Niger Delta.
The National Youth Leader of HOSTCON, Comrade Festus Ogiegbaen made the call during a World Press Conference in Abuja.
Comrade Festus Ogiegbaen said the call became necessary to enable the host communities address developmental challenges in the region.
According to him, since 1999, the 13% has not been paid thereby affecting the socioeconomic well being of people of the region.
“We have written to the Presidency on this issue and even last month, we were with the Chairman, House Committee on Host Communities and we’ve also written to all the State of Houses of Assembly in the region concerning this” He stated.
In his words ” the 13 percent should not go to the Governors in the region because the money that has entered Niger Delta since 1999 is about forty trillion which the Governors cannot account for, so all we’re saying in essence is that the Funds should go directly to the body called “Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas” for them to utilize it judiciously because there’s no meaningful and people oriented projects in the region and we want our people to feel the impact of the fund towards realizing its objectives of developmental strides.
“Also the gas flair penalties should equally be released because it’s our prerogative and this is the money that has been budgeted for because when you flair gas, it leads to acidic rains, environmental depredation, air pollution among others and this has been affecting farming and fishing activities which the main occupation of people in the region thereby affecting their livelihood and socioeconomic wellbeing and that’s why the fund is meant to cater for them and the monies have been there for years hence the need for the Federal Government to do something about it by releasing the fund to the host communities” Comrade Festus Ogiegbaen stressed.
He used the opportunity to commend President Bola Tinubu for appointing Barrister Nyeson Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
While expressing satisfaction for the good works and developmental and people oriented projects most especially rural roads across the six Area Councils of the FCT being carried out by Barrister Nyeson Wike since assumption of office as the Minister of FCT, Comrade Festus Ogiegbaen passed vote of confidence on him and promised the Minister of HOSTCON support to him towards realizing the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the good people of FCT and Nigeria in general.
He also promised the support of HOSTCON to President Bola Tinubu’s led administration towards ensuring the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
