Well over 6,000 jobs may be on the line as Shell Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) begins phased relocation of its logistics operations base in the Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne, Eleme Local Government Area (LGA), Rivers State to Lagos State.
The Tide gathered that SNEPCo has already concluded plans to relocate its logistics operations base to Ladol Base in the Lekki area of Lagos.
Addressing newsmen, yesterday, during a peaceful demonstration at the SNEPCo’s Gate in Onne Port to appeal to the company to rescind its decision to relocate its supply base from the free zone to the Lagos Port, President of Onne Youth Council, Comrade Philip John Tenwa said that if SNEPCo makes good their decision, it would adversely affect the youth, adding that the relocation would add additional 6,000 jobless people to the more than 10,000 already displaced directly or indirectly by the gradual relocation of companies from Onne Port in last five years.
He pleaded that the company should consider the unemployment rate in the state, as its decision would worsen the crime rate in the area in particular and the entire state in general.
Tenwa, who led more than 1,000 youth on the protest, stated that the Onne people have coexisted peacefully with SNEPCo since it moved its logistics base to Onne over 20 years ago, but wondered why the company would choose to exit Onne to Lagos port that was already congested.
He regretted that Onne Port, which has enough space for more companies, was lying fallow and in need of more investors, and appealed to the management of SNEPCo to rescind its decision.
According to him, “We have more opportunities here and more space that can accommodate more companies; we have always worked with the security agencies in order to ensure there is peace and order in the area. We are also willing to work and partner with more investors to invest in the area and create more jobs for the teeming Rivers youth.
“If SNEPCo fully implements the relocation plan, a lot of businesses will close down, including contractors and subcontractors, food vendors, artisans and sundry service providers that all contribute to boost the economy of the area and the state.
“We have written to the management of SNEPCo to seek dialogue over the situation, but the meeting has not taken place yet,” Tenwa added.
Some of the placards read: ‘Onne is safe, NPA, please prevail on SNEPCo not to leave Onne Port’, ‘We have been cooperating with all port users, SNEPCo why leaving?’, ‘Save Onne Port, President Muhammadu Buhari, it’s been under-utilized’, ‘SNEPCo, don’t leave Onne Port”, ‘Onne is safe, Eleme is safe, Rivers State is safe, SNEPCo why relocating?’, among others.
He said, “We are here today on behalf of our numerous members and indeed the entire Onne Community to draw the attention of the Nigerian government and indeed the world to the plan by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) to relocate its Supply Base from the Onne Port to Lagos. Indeed, SNEPCo last week surreptitiously directed that all its property and equipment including turbines, engine spares and miscellaneous equipment spares be loaded into containers and moved out of the Onne Port, where it had operated for more than 20 years, to another port in Lagos.
“This move by SNEPCo has serious and far-reaching implications for the Onne community and indeed the entire Rivers State. This is because SNEPCo, which is the operator of the Bonga field, at present, supports more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs at its Supply Base in Onne. There are also several small businesses and contractors whose businesses and fortunes are tied to SNEPCo,” he said.
Tenwa also said that the relocation of SNEPCo’s supply base out of the Onne Free Zone also negatively affect the economy of Rivers State and the larger Niger Delta region.
“It will also put the means of livelihood of many families and the future of our children at risk as well as further swell the burgeoning unemployment market in the Niger Delta region.
“SNEPCo suppliers and vendors are based in the communities around Onne and in the larger Niger Delta region. The suppliers and vendors deliver various items and supplies to the SNEPCo Supply Base in Onne. The planned relocation of the Supply Base to Lagos will directly affect not just the company’s staff but also these suppliers and vendors. It is also bound to affect the community staff working for SNEPCo,” the Onne Youths Council President said.
He said while the Federal Government and State Governments in the South-South have worked hard to ensure peace in the Niger Delta region, the relocation of the SNEPCo to Lagos has the potential of jeopardizing the peace currently being enjoyed in the region.
“The times are hard because in the past three years, no fewer than 15,000 people have lost their jobs at the Onne Port and the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone as a result of the economic downturn in the country. We think SNEPCo should not compound this situation with the relocation of their Supply Base to Lagos. This is more so as the Federal Government is working hard to ensure that oil companies domicile their offices and operations in the Niger Delta region where they make their fortune,” Tenwa further stated.
He appealed to the Federal Government, Rivers State Government and other relevant authorities to intervene in order to dissuade the management of SNEPCo from leaving Onne Port.
The protesting youth later moved from the SNEPCo Supply Base to the Palace of the Paramount Ruler of Onne Community, King John Dennis Osaronu, where they informed the king of their action.
In his reaction, Paramount Ruler of Onne Kingdom, King John Dennis Osaronu restated the Onne Council of Chiefs’ total support to the peaceful protest by the youth, saying that there was no good reason for SNEPCo to leave the Onne Port to Lagos.
The monarch said the people have been peaceful and cooperative with all companies operating in Onne Port, adding while Lagos ports were already congested and overstretched, Onne Port was free and under-utilized.
Osaronu urged the Federal Government to swing into action to ensure that SNEPCo remains to develop the people of the area, stating that: “I want the Federal Government to know that the Onne Council of Chiefs is behind this peaceful protest. They should listen to us because they have been asking us for peaceful co-existence, and we have given them peaceful environment to operate all these while. Why the relocation to Lagos? We have always supported SNEPCo and other companies in their quest to deliver and develop our place.”
He appealed to the Rivers State Government to intervene as the move was “unjust and not supportable”, and appealed “to the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to prevail on whoever is making the order to withdraw it in order for SNEPCo to remain in Onne and help develop my people”.
“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Nyesom Wike and other well-meaning Nigerians to stop this move by SNEPCo,” he said.
In a reaction to the Onne youth protest, spokesperson for Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) said, “Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has no intention of shutting down the Logistics Supply Base in Onne, Port Harcourt. The base will continue to be utilised by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), operator of the SPDC Joint Venture for SPDC Joint Venture operations.
“SNEPCO’s operations are in the Bonga field 120 kilometers off Nigerian coast in the Gulf of Guinea and our operations staff and contractors work offshore in Bonga.”

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana