Bayelsa Decries Drop In Revenue From Federation Account

The under-performed Bayelsa State Government has decried the dwindling federal revenue allocations accruing to the state in recent times.

It said that the quantum of oil produced by the state had dropped sharply because several oil wells are operating at zero output level.

The Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this known this at a meeting with youth leaders from the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state in Government House, Yenagoa.

Ehwrudjakpo, in a statement, blamed the drop in federal revenue allocations on the activities of oil thieves, illegal refining of crude and unnecessary stoppage of the operations of oil companies.

He said, “As I speak with you, our revenues are dropping rapidly. About 40 percent of our oil wells in the state are reporting zero production and you know what that means.”

Ewhrudjakpo said that while the present administration in the state would not support the oil companies to short-change their host communities, there was 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 Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for revenue sharing do not favour Bayelsa.

He, therefore, 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.

Ehwrudjakpo argued 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.

He urged all stakeholders, including community leaders, to work closely with security agencies to stop the menace, maintaining 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.

The deputy governor said, “We need to stop this, and it demands our collective efforts. Our youths should not at the slightest provocation go and block oil flow stations and manifolds because it is what they produce from those flow stations that accumulate to become 13 percent derivation.

“Every other indicator for sharing revenue is skewed against Bayelsa State So, we cannot afford to use our own hands to injure ourselves and be complaining at the same time.”

In their separate remarks, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Benjamin Okolo, a representative of Sector 2 Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Major Daniel Nienge and other service commanders in the state, called for credible and realtime intelligence for the security operatives to work with.