Lawmaker Advocates Oil, Gas Summit

The Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Festus Ebea has  called for an emergency oil and gas summit in Edo, to address some important issues in the sector.

Ebea made the call when the house was considering the report of an ad-hoc committee, which was mandated to investigate a petition sent to the house.

The petition, which is on the exploitation of Ologbo in Edo by oil companies and the unemployment of its youths by the companies, was signed by one Mr Friday Omonigho for concerned Ologbo youths.

Ebea said that the call became necessary in the face of massive exploitation of the state by the various oil companies operating in the state.

He said that Ologbo community had more than 60 oil wells, adding that the Pan-Ocean Oil Company operating in the community got as much as 6,000 barrels of oil per day, pointing out that the revenue accruing to the state government based on the oil proceeds was not commensurate with the amount of oil drilled from its soil.

“It will be wise at this auspicious time to call for oil and gas summit with all the oil companies in attendance so that all these issues will be discussed and settled holistically.

“More than 60 oil wells in one community is not small if you must agree with me,” he said.

Considering the report of the committee, the House resolved that Pan-Ocean Oil Company operating in Ologbo community should be alive to its responsibilities by providing the community with some basic social amenities.

The committee also stated that Pan-Ocean Oil Company should establish an office in Benin with liaison offices in communities where they operate, and mandated the Board of Internal Revenue to meet with Pan-Ocean Oil Company to determine the tax liabilities of the company.

The committee  urged Pan-Ocean Oil Company to establish a flow station for transparency and accountability and charged the Ministry of Special Duties on Oil and Gas to take inventory of all the oil wells drilled by oil companies for the purpose of determining the actual 13 per cent derivation accruing to the state.

The House unanimously adopted all the resolutions and the Speaker, Mr Uyigue Igbe, directed that clean copies be sent to Pan-Ocean Company, Ministry of Special Duty Oil and Gas and the governor for further action.