The Environmental Right Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA, and stakeholders has launched a document titled “Publish what you pump campaign.
The programme which was held at the Algate Congress Hotel, Sani Abacha Road, Port Harcourt took place on 24th July, 2013.
Presenting the document the executive Director of ERA Dr. Godwin Uyo Ojo said the presentation mark an important milestone in the launch of a natural and global advocacy initiative tagged “publish what you pump campaign” saying that the campaign is long over due and is vital to the coalition of civil society groups.
He said that the need for the launch became imperative because transparency and accountability is no longer existing in the oil and gas sector noting that it is a threat to natural security and sustainable development.
The executive director ERA maintained that for the past 50 years the Nigeria crude has been lifted without proper accountability in line with the international standard.
Dr. Ojo pointed out that Nigeria as a country did not know exactly the volumes of oil that is being taking from Nigeria, unless the one declared by the oil companies which is an aberration.
He said this campaign draws the attention of the world to the wrong system, the ecological devastation and crude oil theft by those in high places.
In her solidarity message, Mr. Chinedum Adeboni said apart from requesting for the stoppage of the oil theft which has polluted the environment of the Niger Delta it is the duty of oil stakeholders to demand the total volume of oil pump from the Niger Delta on daily basis.
Mrs. Adebomi a programme officer of Nigeria stability and reconciliation stated that this campaign is a must win campaign against oil theft and illegal sales of crude oil.
The stakeholders condemned the lack of transparency and accountability in the oil sector leading to massive oil theft from point of production to point of sale while canvassing the measurement of true metre in our sales of oil and gas.
In their separate solidarity messages, the MOSOP president Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara disclosed that today the campaign for publish what you pump is very crucial.
He stated that the oil production in African countries is different from what is obtainable in other part of the world where the oil companies give the accurate volume of oil produced.
The MOSOP president maintained that the campaign will put a task on everyone to do more. Mr. Legborsi said the ogonis has challenge shell on the number of barrels of oil taking from the place which they declared was about 28000 barrel which MOSOP disputed them.
Also speaking, the executive chairman Host Communities Network of Nigeria (HOCON) Prince Barb Preye Pawury charged the oil companies and the Federal Government to ensure that oil are properly metered to show the accuracy of the oil and gas business in Nigeria.
Prince Pawury stated that the Host Communities should not be responsible for the protection of oil pipeline totally if the oil companies cannot monitor it.
Journalists who covered the occasion have asked the group to define how they can monitor the crude taking from Nigeria.
Others asked on the issue of poor electricity to power the meter for the oil measurement and how to tackle sabotage in the system.
Stakeholders have earlier task oil companies to use modern technologies to account for the correct volume of oil pump from the region daily.
The facilitator of the programme Barr. Mike Karikpo charged participants to drive the process by spreading the message of the campaign of publish what you pump. ###
Pius Dukor
