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Etche, Shell In Face-Off Over Oil Spill
The Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is currently in a face-off with one of its host communities, Okpuala-Okoroagu 11, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State over an oil spill incident at the company’s Nkali-well 11 facility located in the area.
The Tide gathered that following the dispute, a man identified as, Prince Chijoke Amadi, from the community was killed Wednesday while unconfirmed number of persons sustained various degrees of injuries.
A vehicle belonging to Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as other equipment were also burnt down, last week.
The Community Trust Secretary, Okpuala Autonomous Community, Okoroagu Etche, Mr. Amadi Aurelio, who spoke to The Tide, traced the problem to the evening of Sunday, 10th May, 2015, when community people were jolted by a heavy explosion from the oil well.
“On getting to the area, we discovered massive spillage every where. We contacted SPDC same evening and a team from the company came and left the following day. Another team came and confirmed that the spillage was from the well head,” he narrated.
He said the spill was a surprise to the community because SPDC tagged the well a dried one since 2007, and removed all the facilities, including the flow line.
“The location has since 2007 been abandoned by SPDC without surveillance, security, no grass cutting, no routine engineering maintenance, as a result, the place has turned to a thick forest”, he said.
The Secretary said on 15th May, the company stopped the spillage while discussions the company had with a delegation of the community twice at Shell Industrial Area, Port Harcourt were stalled as they could not arrive at acceptable conclusion.
According to Aurelio, instead of accepting negligence on the part of Shell as the cause of the spillage, the company turned around, saying the spillage was caused by sabotage so as to deny the community compensation for the huge damages suffered by the people.
“On 16th May, 2015, SPDC carried out a (JIV), Joint Inspection of the spilled area, and thereafter, forged the report without consulting the community leaders and chiefs”, he stated in a statement.
The statement alleged that because the community refused to sign the purported (JIV) report in which the company claimed that the spill was caused by sabotage, SPDC has resorted to invading the community with armed security operatives, intimidating leaders and Chiefs to sign the report under duress.
“This barbaric attitude of SPDC and the armed security men yesterday (Wednesday) led to the killing of one of the youth, Mr. Chijioke Prince Amadi during sporadic shooting, and others sustained various degrees of injuries and are now lying in critical conditions in one of the hospitals, as they invaded the house of one of the community leaders, Mr. Amadi Aurelio, who is the CT Secretary intimidating him to sign the forged JIV report”, it alleged.
Similarly, a statement issued by the headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Port Harcourt confirmed the death of the youth on Wednesday, and the burning down of the Corps vehicle by irate community youth.
The statement, which was signed by the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Mr. Oguntuase Michael, alleged that youth of the Community attacked men of the command while giving protection to some Shell staff and contractors who were there to fix vandalized oil well-heads and pipelines.
A Patrol vehicle of the Command was burnt down by the armed youth, leaving our Personnel to escape on foot. Information is also reaching the Command that one casualty was recorded in the unfortunate incident,” it said, adding that the command had ordered full scale investigation into the circumstances leading to the development.
But in a response to questions related to the allegations raised, SPDC, said that the joint venture has over the years “implemented community development projects and programmes at Okoroagu central community and the entire Nkali clan as part of its overall social investment intervention in the Etche area.
In a statement, signed by its Spokesperson, Joseph Obari, the company said that “under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) agreement signed in 2007, SPDC JV has provided funding for electricity, water, town hall and other infrastructure in Okoroagu community.
“Also, more than 350 youth in the Nkali oil field area have benefited from the SPDC JV scholarship scheme and other human development programmes. SPDC JV will continue to contribute to the development of the area, although as is well-known, the development of a community is the collective responsibility of the government, the private sector and the people themselves.”
On the allegation that recent spill is as a result of a fault in its wellhead in Nkali, SPDC said that the claim was “not true”, explaining that “a leak was reported May 12 from Nkali gas Well-11 following the theft of the wellhead (Christmas Tree) by unknown persons. The well was not producing at the time of the incident.
“The wellhead serves as a seal and control system for a producing or non-producing well. Its removal at Nkali caused a leak of predominantly gas accompanied with some liquid which we stopped on May 15. Further repair work continued at the well location until June 1, 2015. It was clear from the joint investigation visit comprising representatives of regulatory agencies, the community and SPDC that the wellhead was stolen, although some community representatives refused to sign the report,” it stressed.
On concerns that SPDC has refused to address the impact of spill on farmlands, the statement said that “SPDC endeavours to clean up spills as quickly as possible, even the ones caused by oil theft or sabotage. At all times, we respond to spill incidents and work to clean up the spilled oil and remediate the environment as quickly as possible. However, sometimes access to the spill point and insecurity can delay our response.”
The SPDC also denied that it masterminded the killing of a community youth in cause of a peaceful agitation following the spill, noting that “Our staff have been engaging members of the community in order to assist with the demobilsation of a contractor who had completed securing the well from which the wellhead was stolen.
“After completing the work on June 1, 2015, the contractor was preparing to demobilise and vacate the worksite when some youth stopped him, demanding payment of compensation and other monies. On June 3rd, the situation escalated as our staff endeavoured to persuade the youths to allow the contractor to vacate the worksite.
“The community supported the well securing exercise, granted access to the contractor, and also supplied labour for the work. Nigerian regulations forbid the payment of compensation for sabotage spills. To set the records straight, SPDC did not deploy any security personnel to the community,” the statement emphasised.
The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) has unveiled measures to enthrone ease of doing business and win back the confidence of the business community.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, unveiled the plans at the Breakout Session of RSIPA at the ongoing 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, at the Obi Wali International Cultural Centre, in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Peterside said the agency was poised to free the state from accumulation of wrong narratives that branded it over the years as unsafe for business.
He, however, admitted that many things had gone wrong in the past where regulators joined to make the business environment difficult for investors.
He announced that the agency was rather focused on actions, solutions, and results as adopted in the mission statement of the Board.
“Our task is no mean feat. We are dealing with the perception risk that over several years branded the state as unsafe. We are also faced with the challenges of dealing with the lack of cohesion amongst MDAs, policy inconsistencies, multiple taxation, incessant harassment by miscreants, red tape and delays in obtaining operating permits, high cost of operations and opaque public sector,” he said.
“It is about listening to the investors in the field and ensuring that MDAs are carried along, hence the imperative for the setting up of our One-Stop-Center”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, who represented the state governor, said the Fubara administration was ready to listen to the business community to see ways of reducing impediments to investments.
He listed the stages of actions being undertaken by the governor as outlined in his 37-page blue print to revive the economy of Rivers State.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who was presented at the event as a star investor and promoter of Rivers State reputation, said for the plans of the investment promotion agency to materialize, an enabling law should replace the Executive Order that established the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.
He said this would insulate the agency from political instability and remove fear in the minds of investors about its sustainability.
According to him, protection precedes promotion and Local Direct Investment (LDIs) is what attracts and promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
“It is the rat at home that reveals to the one in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen”, he added.
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?The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City said that Port Harcourt is like a business empire under lock and key because it is not protecting its own and also not promoting its own enough for investors to come in.
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?In the area of land documentation and inventory, China urged Rivers State Government to borrow a leaf from Abuja and adopt the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in dealing with land and property registration and documentation for ease of doing business.
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?He said Lagos understood the power of business information, adding “this creates the impression that if you are not doing it in Lagos, you are not doing it in Africa.
“We need to shout louder than Lagos, because we need more investments than Lagos and the structural integrity of Abuja. When you marry both, Rivers State would be wonderful and become green with investments,” he said.
In her speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, called on the state government to look into the menace of parked trucks now turning Trans-Amadi into a risk zone.
She outlined the activities of the PHCCIMA and invited investors and businesses to the Port Harcourt economic hub, saying peace has returned.
The Director, Investors Relations of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs Lovina Kayode, urged Rivers State to make haste and catch up on Ease of Doing Business, saying the Council has come to help businesses in the state.
Mrs Kayode, who represented the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, commended the Mayor of Housing and his counterpart, Mr. Oliver Biedima of Rainbow Heritage Group, for their decision to invest in Rivers State, saying it is a proof that Rivers State is safe for investors and their investments.
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In his remarks, Oliver Biedemi of Rainbow Heritage Group urged government to give the private investors chance to develop the economy, saying ordinarily government does not have the funds to develop the economy.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
