By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Oil companies operating in Nigeria have been directed by the Federal Government to relocate their headquarters to Niger Delta region of the country.
Oil produced from Nigeria is mostly from the region, but activities of militants in the area have made most oil firms relocate from Niger Delta to other safer places.
This has also caused a sharp drop in the volume of crude oil produced by Nigeria, causing a huge loss in foreign exchange income for the country.
As part of efforts in restoring peace in the area, the Acting President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo has embarked on a peace tour of Niger Delta to dialogue with stakeholders.
During his visit to Akwa Ibom, one of the oil producing states in the country and the region, the Acting President directed the International Oil Companies operating in the Niger-Delta region to relocate their headquarters to their states of operation to mitigate tension in host communities.
Mr Osinbajo, who addressed stakeholders in Uyo, the state capital, during a town hall meeting, urged the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, to begin the process of engaging the oil firms on the way forward to actualize the directive.
According to the Acting President, “it is the right thing to do” since peace was already returning to the area.
He said the Federal Government will do everything possible to sustain the peace already restored to the region.
