Delta State Government has given Pan Ocean Oil Corporation up till May 10, 2013, to pay compensation to Abavo community for drilling oil in their land.
Traditional ruler of Abavo Kingdom in Ika South Local Government Area of the state, Obi Uche Irenuma II, made the disclosure at a tripartite meeting with the state government, Abavo community and the oil company.
The meeting took place at the deputy governor’s office in Asaba.
The monarch, noted that the deputy governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, who presided over the meeting, also advised the oil company to respect and abide by the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, reached with Abavo community to avoid crisis.
On the controversial flow station being proposed for Owa-Alidima, he said the state government and security agencies had asked the oil company to stay action on the issue as it involves OPL 275 until a meeting between the state government, the oil company and Abavo community was held.
Irenuma 11 expressed happiness at the outcome of the meeting and commen-ded the state government for wading into the crisis between the oil company and Abavo community, saying that the flow station was paramount to Abavo community.
He maintained that Abavo people were peace loving and as such would continue to promote the peace and security agenda of the State government.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan and Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke have been faulted by the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, over alleged total failure of the Nigerian Local Content, three years after it came on stream.
The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act was signed into law by President Jonathan in April 22, 2010 to enforce the growth of local capacity and promote indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry.
However, the oil monitoring group, NDIMRC, in a statement, yesterday, by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, lambasted President Jonathan and Alison-Madueke, said: “We want to say that the Nigerian Local Content is a total failure three years after the Act was signed into law by President Goodluck.
“In April 22, 2010, when the President signed the bill into law, we were excited. But three years on, we cannot say that this is time for celebration.
“Multinational oil companies are picking up all the juicy contracts, leaving southerners in penury. Enough is enough. The President and the Petroleum Minister must go back to the drawing board and find out why the Nigerian Local Content has failed.”
On the Petroleum Industry Billl, PIB, the group said: “We have observed that some Nigerians are against the passage of the bill because it is favourable to the Niger Delta people.
“It is worrisome that the bill has not been passed six years after it was introduced.”
“We are appealing to our lawmakers to accord the Bill the urgent attention needed for its passage.” [Vanguard]
