Heritage Oil Limited and some major oil companies have indicated
interest to relocate their headquarters to Delta State, the Commissioner for
Oil and Gas in the state, Mr. Mofe Pirah
disclosed.
Pirah told
journalists in Asaba that the move was a welcome development considering the
fact that militant groups like the Niger
Delta Avengers (NDA) have repeatedly vandalised oil pipelines while the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate
(NDGJM) had repeatedly warned oil companies to leave the region, failing
which they would have their facilities totally grounded.
An elated
Pirah explained that Heritage Oil, the new operator of OML 30, which was
previously operated by the Nigerian
Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) has agreed to locate their operational
headquarters within the state.
He said: “This is a major achievement considering the fact that
proceeds from the acreage, which traverses 111 communities across 10 LGAs that
had always gone to Edo State where NPDC have their headquarters. We also have
understanding with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board
(NCDMB), to site an industrial cluster within Koko, the headquarter of Warri
North Local Government Area.”
Sounding
optimistic, Pirah maintained that the move will no doubt trigger an accelerated
development of the environment as local skills necessary in the oil and gas
sector will be developed and the people will have a higher opportunity to deepen
their engagement in the industry.
He however
lamented that most investors in oil and gas are moving out of the region due to
vandalism of facilities by militants, a situation that had reduced revenue
accruing to the state due to shortfall in oil production.
According to
the Commissioner, over 80 per cent of pipeline vandalism in the oil rich Niger
Delta region happens in Delta State, adding that the migration of oil companies
has also significantly affected the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the
state.
“Investors are moving out of the state in droves as a result of youths’ restiveness and their absence, coupled with a lack of job opportunities for the youths have further compounded security issues within our communities,” he said. (Guardian)
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