Group Berates FG, IOCs on Vandalism, Bunkering and Artisanal Refining in Bayelsa

FACE INITIATIVE, a Non-Governmental Organisation championing the cause of the downtrodden by acting as a voice between government and the people towards the implementation of sustainable policies for humanity, has unveiled a detailed research report on the need for sustainable livelihood for indigenes of the Niger Delta bedeviled by the negative impacts of vandalism, bunkering and artisanal refining of crude oil.

While advocating an agriculture-based alternative, the Executive Director of FACE INITIATIVE, Mr. Inatimi Odio, re-iterated that the research was carried out over a period of two years to ascertain alternative means of livelihood to be adopted by impacted communities of oil and gas hazards across communities and eke out ways of assisted them in order to dissuade them from the economic vices of bunkering and artisanal reefing which has become a source of livelihood for many families.
In his keynote address, Nanalaguo Christian Alagoa, who spoke on the theme: “Effective Policy Formulation: A Panacea For Youth/Economic Development’” tasked impacted communities to channel their grievance for economic boost through lawful measures and not see sabotage as the remedy.

Presentations were made by community leaders who shared their challenges of their crop produce against the backdrop of the effects of bunkering and artisanal refining activities in their environment.
Mrs. Ezuzu Beauty Opiah, who hails from Ogbia, spoke on plantain production; Mrs. Waripagamo Waribo, who hails from Akassa, spoke on Rice plantation while Senoir Comrade Samuel Oburo, from Kalaba/Ikarama, spoke on Cassava cultivation as sources for alternative livelihood.
In their separate goodwill remarks the Commissioners for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. David Alagoa; Environment, Mr. Iselema Gbaranbiri, Labour, Pructive and Man Power development, Mr. Federal Otokito and that of Youths and Sports, Hon. Daniel Igali (represented); all gave government’s assurances to affected persons as they commend FACE INITIATIVE for taking the initiative to carry out the research and eke meaningful recommendations on ways indigenes involved in nefarious activities of sabotage can eke out a living through other meaningful ventures such as agriculture.
CHOICETV reports that the highpoint of the occasion was the official unveiling of the Sustainable Livelihood Assessment Report in Bayelsa State.

The Executive Director of FACE INITIATIVE, Mr. Inatimi Idio, was flanked by other Commissioners and Security Commanders who unanimously adopted the reports recommendations for agriculture as the panacea to the plague of illegal bunkering and artisanal refining that is fast fading away as a past time of oil and gas host communities in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta at large

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