Tag Archives: Oil Blocs

Host communities demand 50 per cent of oil blocs in Niger Delta region

Posted on by
Reply

Host Communities of Nigeria Oil and Gas Producing areas (HOSTCOM) have demanded 50 per cent of oil blocs awarded in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking through the Urhobo ethnic nationality chapter of HOSTCOM, chairman, Festus Pemu also asked multinational oil companies to relocate to their operating communities as demanded by the local content law.

Pemu said: “At present no oil bloc is owned by an indigene of oil producing communities. This is unfair and needs to be corrected.”

To consolidate on the existing peace, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has urged the United Kingdom and other countries, which have stakes in the region to invest in employment generating ventures.

Speaking when the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba, Okowa said: “Anything that will create more job opportunities for the youths should be encouraged.”

The governor said cases of pipeline vandalism were limited to the creeks of the state.

Arkwright in his speech said he was in the state to explore areas of economic benefits for the U.K., declaring that Delta was one of the key states in the country

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organization group, Kovenium/mmalah Foundation (KIF) in Delta State has chided government over its failure to stop gas flaring in oil communities.

Executive Director of the NGO, Faith Nwandishi, told journalists in Asaba, yesterday that gas flaring had wreaked havoc in Ndokwa East, West, Ughelli, Ogwashi-Uku and Ozoro, with no fewer than 132 persons feared killed in 2015 and 2016.

The Udefi Oba Oloye of Warri Kingdom in Delta State, Chief Clement Maleghemi has urged Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to fulfill all the promises he made during his meeting with youths.

Maleghemi made the appeal while speaking on the significance of Udefi Day celebration at Ugbolokppso, Uvwie Local Government Council at the weekend.

NNPC doesn’t know how many oil blocs Nigeria has — COO

Posted on by
1

The Chief Operating Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation set tongues wagging when he revealed to the House of Representatives that he did not know the number of oil blocks Nigeria has.

 

Bello Rabiu appeared before the House committee investigating the controversial Malabu oil deal and OPL 245 on Tuesday afternoon.

 

After telling the committee that the NNPC was not directly involved in the controversial deal, Mr. Rabiu was asked to give details of Nigeria’s oil fields.

 

Razak Atunwa, the chairman of the committee, said he posed the question because he believed it would help lawmakers to determine Nigeria’s oil revenue prospects amidst the lingering financial crisis.

 

“I don’t know the answer to that question,” Mr. Rabiu said.

 

Mr. Rabiu said statistics about oil prospecting licences and oil mining licences were not kept with the NNPC, but the Department of Petroleum Resources and directed lawmakers to contact the department for the information.

 

Mr. Rabiu also told the committee that the NNPC Act gave the Minister of Petroleum the absolute power to exercise discretion on award of oil licences.

 

“The NNPC Act, even till today, clearly stated that the minister can award oil exploration licences at his discretion,” Mr. Rabiu said.

 

The licence for the OPL 245 oil field was awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd. in April 1998 by a former Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete. The oil firm was later traced to the minister.