Port Harcourt — Environmental Rights Action, ERA and Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, have vowed to take to the streets against the Nigerian state to achieve accountability and transparency in the country’s extractive industry.
ERA and MOSOP underscored this commitment, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State with the launch of Publish What You Pump, an anti-corruption advocacy aimed at tracking corruption in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
At the event, which was graced by representatives of civil society groups, community-based organisations and Friends of the Earth Nigeria, FoEN, the groups said that Nigeria loses nearly 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day, costing the country nearly $8 billion dollars anually.
Executive Director of ERA, Dr. Godwin Ojo, on his part said Nigeria was endowed with abundant natural resources, but was unable to utilise same for the wellbeing of citizens owing to “lack of transparency and accountability.”
MOSOP leader, Legbosi Saro Pyagbara, said: “Even if it involves matching on the streets, we will do so to ensure accountability, especially to enable the oil producing communities know how many barrels are being pumped from their environment. That is why we are calling on Nigerians to support this campaign.”
Source: All Africa