Re-opening of OML-25: SPDC, BelemaOil commend FG

Re-opening of OML-25: SPDC, BelemaOil commend FG

Saturday, September 28, 2019 11:08 pm


The OML 25 Flowstation: Now, reopened

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the Belemaoil Producing Limited, have lauded the Federal Government for a peaceful resolution for operations to commence at OML-25.

Mr Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director of SPDC Nigeria stated this at Belema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, during a joint visit to OML-25 host communities with a Federal Government delegation.

Okunbor said SPDC was happy to be back to the facility for operations to commence after two long years of discussions.

“A lot of credit to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari for bringing SPDC and Belemaoil together.

“SPDC is in support of what the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the NNPC GMD have said to bring peace to the host communities.

“It is absolutely important for peace to return because in the absence of peace, we will be where we are and nothing will be achieved,” he said.

According to Okunbor, no party is benefiting from the peace that is not found because even Belemaoil, a unit partner is not benefiting.

“So, it was in that spirit that we decided that it was important to sit together and find a way out of the impasse.

“I am very grateful to God that we have found that meeting point for us to work together with Belemaoil and the host communities,” he said.

The SPDC MD said that they had impressed it on Belemaoil to treat everybody well no matter what must have transpired in the course of the challenge.

“The President of Belemaoil should ensure that all sections of the host communities are carried along, and he gave us that commitment.

“So, it is very important that we don’t keep generating more and more crisis because at the end, we are all one for one purpose,” he added.

Mr Tein Jack-Rich, President of Belemaoil commended the federal government for achieving a far reaching reconciliation among the stakeholders of OML-25.

Jack-Rich pledged to carry everybody along no matter the position the parties took.

“Belemaoil will not treat anyone unduly because we need peace to develop the area and put an end to agitations,” he said.

NAN reports that women from Belema, Offoin-ama and Ngeje communities in Akuku-Toru LGA, hosting OML-25 shutdown the facility over SPDC’s failure to develop the area. (NAN)

OAS/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
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One Comment

  • MADU NDIBE ESQ. says:

    The agitations of the concerned communities is the failures of these oil companies in carrying out their social responsibilities in improving the quality of life, health and other infrastructural developments in these communities.

    Whilst these multinationals makes profit they should also develop the sources of these profits. One will be levied when you judge the amount of profit made by these companies to compare the battering and environmental degradation that these communities goes through. The leaders and the people of these communities must be carried along. Their children should have quality schools and education and that was why nature planted that mineral resources in their communities. We need to see infrastructures install by these companies and remedy all environmental degradation caused. These companies must employ sustainable development in their oil exploration of these communities. These companies owe these obligation not only to the concerned communities but to Nigerians as well.

    The women of these communities have demonstrated that where illegality and impunity becomes law, then intransigence and resistance will be employed as a call of duty.

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