Commissioner Decries Ceding Of Rivers Oil Wells

The Rivers State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr Samuel Eyiba, has decried the ceding of some oil wells in the state by the Federal Government to some neighbouring states.

The commissioner stated this while answering questions from journalists on New Year’s Day in Port Harcourt.

Eyiba noted that the ceding of oil wells was one of the major challenges that confronted the state last year.

He recalled that some of the state’s oil wells in Soku and Etche axis were ceded to Bayelsa and Abia States, respectively.

Though he did not state clearly how it has affected the state, but said that the situation sparked up serious of challenge in some quarters.

He also reasoned that if the “missing oil wells” could be returned to the state, that it will enhance its revenue profile.

According to him, states ought to control their natural resources and remit to the centre, saying that there is no true federalism in the country.

“We saw a lot of challenges last year, including taking our oil wells to Abia and Akwa Ibom States, Rivers people saw it all, and we would never be discouraged”, he said.

The state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi had also accused the federal government of preventing Nigeria Liquidified Natural Gas (NLNG) from building its seventh train in the state after a concluded arrangement about the project.

Earlier, he had said that the federal government was yet to release the $1 billion for the clean up of Ogoniland as recommended by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report after four years.