The Bayelsa State Government has called on the youths to support the fight against oil bunkering, illegal refining and other unwholesome activities that impact negatively on oil production and revenues accruing to the state.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call yesterday at a meeting with youth leaders from Ogbia Local Government Area in Government House, Yenagoa.
Pointing out the direct relationship between oil production and revenue generation in the state, Ewhrudjakpo lamented the dwindling federal allocations to the state in recent times.
The Deputy Governor, who decried the sharp drop in Bayelsa’s oil production, said several oil wells were operating at zero output level.
He blamed the development on the activities of oil thieves, illegal refining of crude and unnecessary stoppage of the operations of oil companies.
He said that while the present administration would not support the oil companies to shortchange their host communities, there is need for the people to channel their grievances to the government for amicable settlement.
According to him, apart from the 13 per cent oil derivation, all the other parameters used by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for revenue sharing do not favour Bayelsa.
He therefore charged the youths to stand against any activity that would reduce the quantum of crude oil being produced in the state.
Ewhrudjakpo stressed that it was unjustifiable to complain against environmental degradation caused by oil companies, when people from the Niger Delta are also contributing to it through illegal refining of crude oil.
The Deputy Governor, who urged all stakeholders including community leaders to work closely with security agencies to stop the menace, maintained that illegal oil refining does not only endanger the health of the people but also destroys the environment of both the present and future generations.
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