The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has issued a plea to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government, urging the relocation of International Oil and Gas Companies’ (IOCs) headquarters from their current locations to the Niger Delta region. In a statement released yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, the spokesperson for the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, Amb. Binebai Princewill, emphasized the necessity of this move, especially considering recent relocations of federal establishments to Lagos.
According to Princewill, with the shifting of certain departments of federal agencies to Lagos, there exists no valid justification for the IOCs to continue operating their headquarters outside of the Niger Delta. He called upon President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the Federal Executive Council, and other relevant agencies to initiate the process of relocating these IOCs without further delay.
Princewill stated, “There should be no argument, as the Federal Government has relocated Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.” He highlighted additional instances of relocations, including announcements from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, as evidence of the feasibility and necessity of such actions.
Asserting the urgency of the matter, Princewill warned of potential consequences if the relocation is not promptly executed. He stressed the adverse impact of continued neglect of the Niger Delta region, citing instances of environmental damage and economic marginalization experienced by its inhabitants.
In addition to the call for IOCs’ relocation, the IYC spokesperson urged the President to implement policies aimed at alleviating the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, particularly in light of inflation and rising commodity prices. He emphasized the disproportionate burden borne by Niger Delta communities, especially those in the riverine areas, due to the increased cost of living exacerbated by fuel price hikes.
As the IYC continues to advocate for the interests of Niger Delta communities, their call for the relocation of IOCs’ headquarters underscores the region’s longstanding grievances and aspirations for equitable development.
