Illegal Structures Demolition Looms In Oyigbo

Hundreds of buildings occupying the right of way of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) crude oil pipeline in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State stand the risk of being crushed when the state government begins demolition of illegal structures in the area.
Owners of the said buildings and other physical structures which run into several billions of Naira may also not get any compensation but rather face prosecution for illegal encroachment.
Officials of the SPDC, who conducted newsmen round the affected areas on Tuesday as part of a one-day seminar organized by the company in Port Harcourt for practicing journalists in Rivers State showed the structures to journalists to appreciate the enormity of the challenges it faces in the area.
The SPDC Manager, Pipelines Right of Way, Wenike Princewill, lamented the challenges faced by the company as a result of encroachment on its pipelines and other facilities.
He said the company was forced to shut down operations of its flow station and gas plant for over four months in the area because of so many structures blocking its right of way, and appealed to the media to assist in the campaign against the menace.
Princewill, who emphasised on the negative effects of the problem, said it reduces oil production which invariably reflects on the nation’s economy.
He further stressed that those living or operating in such structures endanger their lives as the highly flammable contents of the pipes could explode and cause widespread damages.
On why the company had to keep quiet until such structures were fully developed before taking action, the manager said the company lacks powers to enforce demolition or evacuation as the Act gives such responsibility exclusively to the president through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources or the State governments.
Regretting that past administrations in the six states of the Niger Delta were not co-operative, Princewill, however, expressed satisfaction with the present administration’s in the six states for their active corporation in that direction.
The Manager Corporate Media Relations of the company, Mr. Precious Okolobo said the aim of the seminar was to solicit the collaboration of the media in the company’s campaign against oil theft, pipeline vandalism and encroachment of pipeline rights of way.

Chris Oluoh