Could bitumen conflicts create another Niger Delta situation?
26-11-03 The fears that the tension and conflict that have characterised crude oil exploration and production in the Niger Delta may be re-enacted in the bitumen bearing communities in the country if the Federal Government refuses to involve the affected communities in its plans to begin exploitation of the solid mineral. Already, the Federal Government has been accused of avoiding the involvement of these communities in the on-going preparation for the exploration and exploitation of the solid mineral. This accusation was made in Lagos by Chief Kayode Iwakun, the Chairman of Organisation of Bitumen Producing Areas at a national consultation workshop on bitumen exploration organised by the Environmental Rights Action (ERA) — an environmental rights group. Chief Iwakun further stated that efforts of the affected communities to dialogue with the Federal Government also failed. According to him: “We even tried to stimulate dialogue by inviting members of the Federal Government owned Bitu
