The Senate yesterday rejected a bill seeking to amend the Niger Delta Development Commission Act Cap 86 laws of Nigeria in order to recognise and include Anambra as an oil-producing state.

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Andy Uba, who led the debate on the proposal anchored his decision on the declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan, that Anambra had joined the league of oil-producing states in the country when he visited the state this year.

He argued that with Jonathan’s pronouncement, Anambra had since “joined the oil bearing states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Edo, Abia and Ondo states, as home to the nation’s oil installations and a rich wet land.”
Andy said:

“These communities account for 93 per cent of the country’s export earnings and provide the economic lifeline that sustains the Nigerian state and as a result of which this amendment is being sought for Anambra to be part and parcel of the NDDC.”

He pointed out that the integration of Anambra as part of the NDDC states was necessary to avoid the violent conflicts that accompanied all oil exploration activities which include environmental degradation.

The legislator further noted that the objective of the bill was also to ensure the socio-economic development of the host communities where oil installations are located and the general development of the state.

Senators who made contributions to the bill noted that a mere pronouncement from Jonathan, which was not based on any empirical fact, was not enough to make Anambra an oil-producing state. Senator Attai Ali said he was against the bill because the issue of delineation between Kogi, Anambra and Enugu states which shared common boundaries with the oil installation was still ongoing.

Also Senator Ayogu Eze expressed opposition to the bill, explaining that Jonathan had admitted that he made the pronouncement ascribed to him by Uba in a haste. According to him, Jonathan’s statement degenerated into crisis between the states that shared common boundaries, where the facility was located which forced him to set up a committee led by Vice- President Namadi Sambo to resolve the problem.

Senate President David Mark supported the views of his colleagues and noted that since the issue was not only technical, but also controversial, it was better to suspend further action on the bill, pending the report of the presidential committee.

The senators voted in support of the motion to suspend further action on the bill pending the outcome of the presidential committee on the issue, thereby compelling the sponsor to withdraw the bill.

Also Senator Ayogu Eze expressed opposition to the bill, explaining that Jonathan had admitted that he made the pronouncement ascribed to him by Uba in a haste. According to him, Jonathan’s statement degenerated into crisis between the states that shared common boundaries, where the facility was located which forced him to set up a committee led by Vice- President Namadi Sambo to resolve the problem.

9jacrip:
[s] It is only right to cure the affliction of ignorance when discovered, so please kindly enlighten me on how Abia is an oil producing state.

And Imo?

How and when did they start producing oil? I'm not talking discovery of crude oil presence, I am talking production in the class of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom. [/s]

berem:
Nonsense!!
Do you want to tell me Abia and Imo does not produce oil or they should not be in the league of other states you mentioned? What are you insinuating or you're just trying to be tribalistic?

9jacrip:


You have not answered the question.

Is Abia an oil producing state? Since when didit start producing oil? Imo inclusive but my question is concerned with Abia much more. That state is no different from Osun (which is not an oil producing state).

berem:
please who doesn't know that Abia and Imo are oil producing states and are part of NDDC? Who doesn't know that? Do I need to show you links to prove to you that you are a liar?
Oh please!!

ilugunboy:
The issue with Kogi is still unresolved...





See a whole President causing confusion. SMH

9jacrip:


You seem unnecessarily angry.
I asked a question, since when did questions start getting regarded as lies? I'm only curious, we know oil producing states in the 'producing sense'. I'm only wondering what oil is Abia producing when it is even a poor state and under-developed infrastructurally?

Being part of NNDC does not mean'chit', it is all for revenue sharing.

I am not here to argue, I am just curious and please post links for me to feed on rather than go back and forth.

The sponsor of the bill, [size=20pt]Senator Andy Uba[/size], who led the debate on the proposal anchored his decision on the declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan, that Anambra had joined the league of oil-producing states in the country when he visited the state this year

Also [size=20pt]Senator Ayogu Eze[/size] expressed opposition to the bill, explaining that Jonathan had admitted that he made the pronouncement ascribed to him by Uba in a haste. According to him, Jonathan’s statement degenerated into crisis between the states that shared common boundaries, where the facility was located which forced him to set up a committee led by Vice- President Namadi Sambo to resolve the problem.

berem:
go to google and feed yourself,don't think I will do that for you. I am also not in the mood for back and forth argument.

9jacrip:


You have not answered the question.

Is Abia an oil producing state? Since when didit start producing oil? Imo inclusive but my question is concerned with Abia much more. That state is no different from Osun (which is not an oil producing state).

harde2lah:

Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa accounts for 80% of crude oil production while Imo, Abia and Ondo shares the rest (20%)

9jacrip:


I have done that but apart from Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Edo. The others are generally brushed aside or mentioned in passing.

My inference from the above is that the 5 states actually bear the weight of oil profuction and the other states cannot even sustain Nigeria alone with whatever oil they produce.

Lastly, I generally do not expect an oil producing state to be dead like Abia is. It should be merged with Imo, honestly.

berem:
is that your prayer? Well,let's keep praying for oil prices to continue falling. So that people like you would be happier that Imo and Abia should not be listed as oil producing states.
Have a nice day!!

ilugunboy:
The issue with Kogi is still unresolved...





See a whole President causing confusion. SMH

9jacrip:
It is only right to cure the affliction of ignorance when discovered, so please kindly enlighten me on how Abia is an oil producing state.

And Imo?

How and when did they start producing oil? I'm not talking discovery of crude oil presence, I am talking production in the class of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom.

berem:
please who doesn't know that Abia and Imo are oil producing states and are part of NDDC? Who doesn't know that? Do I need to show you links to prove to you that you are a liar?
Oh please!!