Niger Delta
OML 46: INC Applauds Diri’s Oilfield Recovery Effort
The Ijaw National Congress (INC), a socio-cultural organisation, has commended Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State for his effort to recover the State Government’s Oil Mining Licence (OML) 46 in the Atala oilfield.
This was contained in a statement issued by Prof Benjamin Okaba, the President of INC.
The group noted that the decision of Diri to engage President Muhammadu Buhari in a bid to reclaim the oil asset for the government and good people of Bayelsa was a step in the right direction.
“The governor’s October 5 meeting with Buhari in Abuja where he sought the President’s intervention to resolve the orchestrated controversy around OML 46, revoked in April 2020, is a demonstration of his leadership in the affairs and wellbeing of the Ijaw nation,” he said.
“We applaud Diri for also seeking the Federal Government’s intervention in road infrastructure in the State, and the need to adopt the Bayelsa Medical University as a suitable institution and location for the South-South region in the proposed establishment of six new federal universities of medical sciences and biomedical technology in the country.
“We thank President Buhari for expressing his commitment to Gov. Diri to urgently look into the OML 46 controversy and ensure that it is resolved in favour of Bayelsa because that is the right thing to do in the interest of peace, justice and equity,” the group said.
Okaba further said the INC equally applauds the Senate for dispassionately investigating the OML 46 saga and resolving that the oilfield be returned to its original owner.
“Findings, according to reports, by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions that the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), formerly Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), could not show evidence that the President directed the re-allocation of Atala oilfield to a private firm is very instructive and revealing.
“It is much more instructive and revealing that the Committee also upbraided the NUPRC for flouting a presidential directive that the original owners of OML 46 be given the right of first refusal in the award of the oilfield”, Okaba said.
He continued the INC is in solidarity with Diri and his quest as a leader of Ijaw nation to pursue justice concerning the Atala oilfield through peaceful means to a logical conclusion for the benefit of Bayelsa and Ijaw people.
The Tide source reports that Buhari said he will restore the OML 46, to Bayelsa with “promptness and immediacy”.
The source reports that on October 6, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges And Public Petitions mandated the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPR), to restore the Atala Marginal Oil field (OML 46) to its former owners.
The oil field, which was originally owned by the Bayelsa Oil Company Limited (BOCL), Hardy Oil Nigeria Limited (HONL) and Century Exploration and Production Limited, was reallocated to Halkin Exploration and Production Company Limited (Halkin E&P), through a letter dated July 7, 2021 by the then regulatory agency, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), over alleged inability to bring the Atala Field to production.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
