Return to N’Delta or Quit, FG Orders Oil Firms
From Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt, 02.08.2008
All oil and gas companies which fled the Niger Delta region in the wake of activities of militants have been ordered by the federal government to return to the region or stop business as the situation has changed.
Handing down the order yesterday in a meeting with more than 140 oil and gas companies at the Government House , Port Harcourt with Governor Chibuike Amaechi in attendance, Minister for Special Duties, Chief Godsday Orubebe said any company which refuses to heed the advice to relocate their operations from where they moved to would be stopped from operations.
Orubebe though regretted that the genuine agitations for development in the Niger Delta was hijacked by criminals noted however that it was unacceptable for the companies to drill oil from the region and take the proceeds elsewhere.
According to him, “Government is aware that some companies have relocated their personnel out of this region in the wake of the then grave security situation. It is now time for these companies to return back and keep the productive wheel of the region busy again.”
Orubebe pointed out that the decision of the companies to relocate their operational bases to other parts of the country has further caused unemployment among the youths in the Niger Delta which further exacerbates restiveness and poverty.
“Some have done a complete relocation of their operational offices and activities out of the Niger Delta. But we wish to state that there has been a great improvement in security in Port Harcourt in particular and within the Niger Delta in general.
