Rivers
Oil Theft: SPDC Deploys Drones To Monitor Pipelines, Wellheads
The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has signed a contract to acquire drones to monitor its pipelines and wellheads in the Niger Delta.
SPDC’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr Igo Weli, made this known at a news conference in Port Harcourt.
He said the company decided to acquire drones due to frequent attacks on its pipelines, leading to huge revenue losses from activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals.
According to him, the oil thieves punctured SPDC pipelines and wellheads, and thereafter, redirected crude oil to their illegal refining sites, thus denying the company needed revenue.
“To this end, we have signed a contract, and soon we will start using drones to monitor our pipelines, wellheads and other facilities.
“Shell does so much to protect its assets in Nigeria,” he said.
Weli said frequent attacks on its oil and gas facilities by organised criminals had worsened over the years, resulting in the company spending huge funds to protect its facilities.
“Some of the other extraordinary things we do as a company is flying helicopters daily to check the pipelines that come at a huge cost to the company.
“Even when we see illegal refineries, we cannot do much other than draw the attention of the authorities to it.
“The SPDC builds cages and installs technology to protect its wellheads – just like we put burglary proof in our homes to ward off robbers.
“This is worrisome and should be of concern to everyone, understanding that oil and gas is where the country generates huge forex and creates employment for millions,” he added.
The SPDC General Manager said the company was also collaborating with security agencies through the sharing of data on the locations and activities of illegal bunkers and refining sites.
He said the sharing of data was done to ensure the menace was decisively tackled, to improve the business and working environment.
Weli said governments at both state and Federal levels had been doing their best to address the menace but that more needed to be done to end the menace.
“This is why we have been talking about this over the years, and went as far as opening a website on oil spillage in 2011.”
On the reopening of Trans Niger Pipeline shutdown by the company in March, Weli said the company would only reopen the pipeline when the facility is secured from attacks.
Rivers
Rivers High Court Restrain Trustees, Knights of St. John International, Others From Conducting Election
The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the registered trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria, and four others from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920 CIWA, Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery elections, and Supreme Subordinate elections of the Knights of St John International, Nigeria, pending the determination of the substantive matters before them.
Justice G.C. Aguma and Justice V.C. Ugoji, in their separate interim orders of injunction issued in Suit No: PHC/4410/CS/2025 and Suit No: PHC/4359/CS/2025, respectively, restrained the defendants, whether by themselves, their privies, agents, servants, or any person or group of persons working under them, from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery, Port Harcourt Commandery, and Supreme Subordinate of Knights of St John International, Nigeria.
The claimants, Sir Njoku Chukwuemeka Andrew and Sir Chukwuemeka Martin Mba, in separate suits, through their legal representatives, dragged the defendants to court, seeking an order to restrain them from appointing or installing any interim caretaker executive or leadership to run or pilot the affairs of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The defendants in the matter are: Registered Trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria; Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Ufuoma Okene, the Grand President, Port Harcourt Grand Commandery, Knights of St John International; Noble Brother Viktor Benebo, the Chairman Investigation Committee set up by the 2nd Defendant to investigate the claimants; Sir Architect Prempeh Ebiware, the District 48 Commander, Knights of St John International, Port Harcourt; and Sir Harry Oruma, member of Knights of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The two judges, after listening to the counsels in the matter, granted the claimants’ request and adjourned the matter to 10/12/2025 and 16/12/2025, respectively, for hearing of the motion on notice.
