•Belema Council of Chiefs calls for the prosecution of those who sponsored the illegal shutdown
THE Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, said the shutdown of Oil Mining Lease 25 flow station by its host communities for over two years had caused the country the loss of over $1.7bn.
The Amanyanabo of Belema and Chairman of Belema Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness (HRH), Ibinabo Kalaoriye accused the Chairman of Belema Oil, Tein Jackrich and his associates of economic sabotage over the negative roles they played on the illegal closure of Oil Mining License ( OML) 25 by sponsored groups. He urged the Federal Government to prosecute them for the premeditated economic sabotage.
But Kyari while reopening of the flow station in the area after an agreement was brokered by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Petroleum and the NNPC between Shell and the host communities of the oil facility, stated that 35,000 barrels of oil was lost per day following the occupation of the facility.
He said, “We had a shutdown of the Belema flow station for over two years leading to the loss of over 35,000 barrels of oil per day in monitory terms that over $1.7bn which could have been put to use for the benefit of the community and the rest of the federation.
“We have engaged the communities and Shell to make sure that this dispute between them is brought to a closure, the communities have agreed to vacant the facility to allow petroleum operations to continue.”
Kyari added that Shell would soon resume operations of the facility after carrying out an inventory of damages done to the facility over the period it shut.
“For re-entry of Shell and operations to commence, validation of the state of facility and damages done on the facility overtime would be done and I’m sure within the shortest period of time shell will come up with their plans how it would be done.
“Our first interest here is to ensure peace and security to ensure that normal live returns to this communities. in the communities so that normal lives and development can begin to take place.”
The Amanyanabo of Belema, HRH Ibinabo Kalaoriye stated the position of the primary host community of OML 25 in a press statement titled: “Re-Opening of OML 25 Flow Station: The Belema Community Position “.
He said: “On several occasions as a community we sound it loud and clear that funds, food items and other logistics use for the daily upkeep of the illegal occupants are provided by Mr. Tein Jackrich Jr, through the Acting General Manager of the Belema Oil and Gas Ltd, Engr Mufa-a Welsh to Gibson Suku Tyger alias Suku Daddy who in turn will pass on to them (illegal occupants) since July 17, 2017 to date. No doubt this has no small measure promoted militancy in our creeks and the whole of the Niger Delta region.
“And it is also on record that as part of the Social Corporate Responsibility (SCR), SPDC has handed over the following projects to me as the Amanyanabo of the community namely; portable drinking water, power generating set/electrification and water treatment plant. However, employment was offered to some youths in the community to oversee the said projects. Pictures were taken during the handing over ceremony.
“Once more we call on the federal government and the security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the evil act to book”.
