Brass Liquefied Natural Gas Project Will End Militancy – Bayelsa Elders Speaks

Elders and traditional rul­ers of Bayelsa East Sena­torial District of Bayelsa State have said that the permanent solution to end sea piracy, kidnapping and new militancy in the region is the take-off of the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas Project (Brass LNG).

The elders, made up of two local government councils of Brass and Nembe, said although the local and state governments have done much in the area of providing employment, initi­ating security and peace along the waterways and creeks of the state and the region, the delay in the takeoff of the Brass LNG project has left many youths jobless, restive and involved in the renewed violence in the re­gion.

The Concerned Bayelsa El­ders, in a statement issued yes­terday in Yenagoa and signed by Chief Newton Ayibatare, said though a position paper have been sent to the Chairman of the Brass Local Government, Hon. Bello Bina and the State Gov­ernor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, the takeoff of the Brass LNG will employ over 16,000 restive youths and improve revenue to the local councils, state and fed­eral governments.

According to the Elders, “We have watched with keen interest the recent development in the oil and gas sector and the renewed violence along the creeks includ­ing militancy in the region.We condemn the series of attacks on pipelines and the people of the state by sea pirates,militabts in Bayelsa state. We commend the state and federal governments for actions taken so far.While we agree that there should be dialogue,the need to engage the youths with gainful employment is critical.”

“In Bayelsa State, the need to speed up the takeoff of the Brass LNG is critical to support any form of dialogue between new militants and the Federal Gov­ernment. We are aware that the Brass local council chairman, Bello Bina has tried to provide enabling enviroment for secu­rity and peace in the host com­munities. The Federal Govern­ment should prevail on Brass LNG to commence work and absorb over 16,000 youths in the council, state and federal gov­ernments.”

The people of the area have condemned and called on the members of the renegade mili­tant groups to embrace dialogue and the youths of Bayelsa to de­sist from sea piracy and kidnap­ping adding that the practical solution to restiveness in Bay­elsa and other Niger Delta states is economic empowerment and engagement and would encour­age the Federal Government to ensure the takeoff of the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas Project located in the state