 |
| Senator Ita Enang |
AMID
a raging debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill, Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Business and Rules, Senator Ita Enang, on Wednesday, said
that 83 per cent of oil blocks in the country are owned by Northerners.
“There should be equity and federal
character in the allocation of oil blocks in this country. Eighty-three
per cent of all present oil blocks are held by northerners,” Enang said
on the floor of the Senate, without any of the senior lawmakers
contradicting him.
Enang, representing Akwa Ibom North-East
(Uyo) Senatorial District, therefore demanded a review of oil block
licences in the country even as other senators from the South urged him
on.
Enang’s disclosures came a day after the
debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill had split the senators along
North-South lines. The senators held a rowdy session as those from the
north stoutly opposed the provision of 10 per cent Host Community Fund
in the bill.
The provision requires operating
companies in the Niger Delta, home to Nigeria’s vast oil resource, to
pay 10 per cent of their net profits to the fund for the development of
the communities.
Strengthening his submission, Senator Enang gave a summary of major oil blocks vis-a-vis their ownership.
Enang said Cavendish Petroleum, the
operators of OML 110, awarded to Alhaji Mai Deribe of Borno State (North
East), makes an average of about N4bn monthly.
He said, “Seplat/Platform Petroleum,
operators of the ASUOKPU/UMUTU marginal field has Prince Sanusi Lamido
(not CBN Governor) as a major shareholder and Director.
“South Atlantic Petroleum Limited
(SAPETRO), was established by Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, who is
also the Chairman of ENI Nigeria Limited. SAPETRO partnered with Total
Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) and Brasoil Oil Services Company
Nigeria Lomited to become operators of the OPL 246.
“AMNI International Petroleum and
Development Company is owned by Alhaji (Colonel) Sani Bello of
Kotangora, Niger State. They are operators of OML 112 and OML 117.
“A former Petroleum minister and former
OPEC chairman, Rilwanu Lukman, another northerner, manages AMNI oil
blocks and with very key interests in the NNPC/Vitol trading deal.
“Oriental Energy Resources Limited, a
company owned by Alhaji Indimi, runs three oil blocks: OML 15, the Okwok
field and the Ebok field.
“Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s Express Petroleum and Gas Limited operates OML 108.
“OML 113 allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Limited is owned by Alhaji. W.I. Folawiyo.
“OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy
Nigeria Limited, owned by Emeka Offor, which was sold by Starcrest to
Addax Petroleum. Emeka Offor still has a stake in Addax operations in
Nigeria.
“Mike Adenuga’s Conoil is the oldest indigenous oil exploration industry in Nigeria with six oil blocks;
“Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo’s North
East Petroleum Limited is the holder of the OPL 215 licence. NOREASTER
Petroleum was awarded blocks OPL 276 and OPL 283 and closing thereupon a
Joint Venture Agreement with Centrica Resources Nigeria Limited and CCC
Oil and Gas.
“INTEL is owned by (Abubakar) Atiku,
Yar’Adua and Ado Bayero and has substantial stakes in Nigeria’s oil
exploration industry, both in Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe.
“These need to be looked into, revoked
and re-awarded. The Federal Character which is a principle applicable in
every aspect of our national existence should also be brought to bear
in the application of our oil blocks, marginal fields and prospecting
licences.”
Enang’s disclosures came amid a
consensus among the lawmakers on the need to let the bill sail through
second reading, while further legislative work would take care of the
contentious issues.
Enang, who spoke in support of the PIB,
also argued for the retention of the 10 per cent host community fund,
adding that it did not amount to an additional derivation.
Speaking also in favour of the bill,
Senator Chris Anyanwu (Imo East) said the bill would address the issue
of criminality in the sector.
She said, “The element I like most in
the bill is the host community fund because it removes the motive for
crime. It gives them a sense of belonging and ownership. Until the PIB
is ready and people know that their investment is safe, they will not
come to Nigeria.”
Senator Ayogu Eze from Enugu North also
urged his colleagues to support the bill so as allow for the fine-tuning
of other controversial areas.
Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South)
argued that Section 191 of the bill gave too much powers to the
President, which must be curtailed.
Norther senators whose earlier position was outright rejection of the bill have moved to give the bill a chance.
No comments:
Post a Comment