Global Rights Nigeria has said that oil companies in Niger Delta are losing $56 billion annually on security and other sundry issues, calling on the government and extractive companies to ensure that human rights of people living in the region is taken serious.
Speaking during a two-day workshop held in Lagos, tagged “Governments and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights”, its Country Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, explained that $53b was spent on securing facilities and in the first 7 months of 2013 $3b was lost to oil bunkering.
Baiyewu pointed out that the ability to assess accurately risks present in a company’s operating environment is critical to the security of personnel, local communities and assets, success of the company’s short and long term operations; including promotion and protection of human rights.
She urged Federal Government to abide by the voluntary principles on security and human rights in Niger Delta, saying that more than 50 attacks was carried out on oil installations in 2012.
According to her, in 2015, the government may find itself in a situation where every criminal will be receiving a form of payment through an amnesty.
“We hereby express our support for the following Voluntary Principles (VPs) regarding security and human rights in the extractive sector, which fall into three categories, risk assessment, relations with public security and relations with private security” Baiyewu stated.
She explained that Voluntary Principles on Security and human rights are a set of principles designed to guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that encourages respect for human rights, while helping companies work effectively with governments that seek to protect human rights.
Baiyewu added: “The Voluntary Principles are useful tools for all governments with interests in the operations of the extractive industries and can help contribute to the protection of human rights and the prevention of conflict.”
The workshop had in attendance representatives from Centre for Rights and Development, HURILAWS, Alliances for Africa, Baobab for Women’s Rights, Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC), Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), NBA Section on Business Law, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Future Projects, including members of the press.
One of the participants, Endurance Uhumuavbi, described the event as an eye opener for the public to understand issues of the Niger Delta, adding “understanding that governments have the primary responsibility to promote human rights and that all parties to a conflict are obliged to observe applicable international humanitarian law, we recognize that we share the common goal of promoting respect for human rights, particularly those set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Humanitarian law.
He noted that governments of the United Kingdom, Norway and Netherlands companies in the extractive and energy sectors, and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), all with an interest in human rights and corporate social responsibility, have engaged in a dialogue on security and human rights.