Messrs Ayibapreye Yengizifa, an Environmentalist and Samuel Odusi have commended the contributions of community-based surveillance contractors in curbing oil theft in Bayelsa.
TB I Africa said Yengizifa, who examined the scenario at Bayelsa oilfields in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) in Yenagoa on Monday, noted that the frequency of attacks on oil facilities had reduced in the past two years.
He attributed the decrease to the synergy between local surveillance groups and the security agencies deployed to protect oil infrastructure in the state.
He said that observations at oilfields operated by Aiteo and Agip where such local surveillance groups were retained show that the synergy was yielding results.
“As an Environmentalist and Animal Scientist, the effects of oil spills and resultant pollution are well known and have remained a matter of concern for a very long time.
“The impact of a change of strategy by some oil firms operating in Bayelsa, namely Aiteo and Agip in bringing local people into the pipeline surveillance space is positive.
“The combined efforts of the surveillance contractors and the military has proved effective because the community based surveillance personnel know the terrain and the people that reside there.
“Their joint patrol and raids based on credible local intelligence has resulted to seizure of large volumes of stolen crude and destruction of illegal refinery sites and this is a welcome relief.
“Previous templates of giving pipeline surveillance contracts failed because the contractors and their personnel were strange to the oilfields they were suppose to protect.
“However, the new approach deployed by Aiteo and Agip is very effective and successful, the contracting process ensured that firms and personnel conversant with the terrain were retained to do the job.
“The results so far achieved show that much more can be achieved if the template is used by other oil firms operating in Bayelsa and indeed across the entire region.
“In addition to the economic benefits, combating oil theft and the pollutions that come with it is a welcome relief to the environment,“Yengizifa said.
Odusi, a Community Rights Activist, also urged the oil firms and government at all levels to sustain the current efforts by further investing in the clean-up, remediation and pollution control activities.
He noted that there was need to review the community development strategy deployed by oil companies, saying the funds oil firms spend on projects had marginal impacts on the target audience.
“A typical example is Oloibiri, where the story of oil started in Nigeria and indeed the West African Sub region, Shell Claims to have spent staggering amounts on what they call the Oloibiri Health Project.
“If you visit the Oloibiri Communities in Ogbia Local Government Area you will realise that such figures merely exist on paper.
“The neglect of oil bearing communities should be stopped so that the sabotage of oil pipelines due to the perceived injustice by the host communities would also stop,”Odusi said.
The activist urged the Federal Government to review the mode of releasing the 13 per cent derivation funds to ensure that the impact is felt by oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region.
