Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
A group known as the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has alleged that over 90 per cent of marginal oil fields in the Niger Delta region of the country is owned by people from the Northern part of Nigeria.
Marginal fields are smaller oil blocks that are developed by indigenous companies with the capacity to produce not more than 30,000 barrels per day. They are often discovered on an International Oil Company (IOC)-owned block where there has been no activity in at least the last 10 years.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government introduced marginal fields programme to encourage indigenous participation in the oil industry and also to increase the government’s take on undeveloped acreages, in order to discourage the continuous holding of undeveloped fields by international oil companies.
On May 31 2021, the federal government awarded licence letters to successful investors for the development of 57 marginal oilfields in the country.
But the group is raising an alarm, claiming that almost all 57 marginal oil fields are owned by northerners, whereas the fields are domiciled in the southernmost part of the country.
While speaking recently at the commissioning of the 300,000 litres capacity water facility with a water plant and 1,250KVA power generating set in Idama, Akuku Toru LGA of Rivers State, by Belemaoil/NNPC JV, operators of OML55, the President of the INC, Mr Benjamin Okaba, said this development was exploiting the indigenous areas.
The Ijaw leader spoke in reaction to plans by indigenous oil firm Belemaoil Producing Limited to commission completed CSR projects in Enugu and Sokoto states, lamenting that Ijaw communities have were been raped and exploited over the years by oil companies with little or nothing to show for it.
He said indigenes of other states do not implement projects in Ijaw land, urging the management of Belemaoil to implement more projects in Ijaw communities before extending hands to non-Ijaw areas.
“Over the years, the cry has been neglected by those exploiting our environment and giving back little or nothing.
“Please, we need these projects here in Ijaw land than in Enugu and Sokoto states. Before you give one project to Sokoto, give 10 projects to Ijaw communities. Before you give one project to Enugu please give us 20 projects.
“The truth is that nobody from Sokoto or Enugu will come here and give us any project.
“All the marginal oil wells, 90 per cent of them are owned by Northerners, that is the truth. And they (northerners) take over everything without repatriating anything to us. Sir, the charity must begin at home.
“I am the President of Ijaw National Congress representing over 30million Ijaw people and I have the audacity to say this, please we need more projects. You have done so much, but we need more,” the Ijaw leader said.
He also charged Ijaw communities to remain peaceful for development to thrive and also to make their communities conducive for developmental projects.
