The House of Representatives yesterday Urged the federal government to as a matter of urgency declare Anambra, Kogi and Enugu as oil producing states as oil since exploration/mining activities have begun in the Basin since 2012.
The motion which generated a heated debate though, adopted after a protracted drama from lawmakers who tried to frustrate the passage.
The resolution was sequel to a motion on the "Need to Declare Kogi, Enugu and Anambra States as Oil Producing States" moved by Hon. Emmanuel Egwu (PDP- Kogi) supported by Hon. Tony Nwoye (APC- Anambra) and Hon. Patrick Asadu (PDP- Enugu).
Presenting the motion, Egwu noted the concerted efforts by the Federal Government in prospecting for oil deposits in various parts of the country in the hope of increasing domestic production.
He noted that the Government is fully aware of already explored and determined huge oil and gas deposits in commercial quantities in Anambra Basin, which cuts across Ibaji Area, Idah-1 , Alade-l, Atu-l , Inni-1 in Kogi State; Eziagulu Otu, Enugwu Otu, Nzam, Ezi-Anam, Anaku, Omor in Anambra State and Igga, Ojo, Uzo Uwani Areas in Enugu State.
"Also aware that the failure to optimally explore this already established huge deposits in the Anambra Basin which would generate social and economic activities in the Basin has caused disaffection and crisis across those bordering States.
The lawmaker explained that the crisis has occasionally led to bloodshed amongst citizens in the border corridors, where this oil is in high commercial quantity;
"It would be recalled that between 1952 and 1986, three companies, namely Shell BP (now Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Elf (now Total Fina Elf) and Agip Energy had dug 25 exploration wells in this Basin but abandoned them due to the Government policy then that these deposits are to be for strategic reserve;
"Equally aware that OPL 901 and OPL 902 (previously OPL 444) were all abandoned in the region to waste despite NNPC /NPDC on their own having carried out seismic activities in the Basin in parts of Kogi, Enugu and Anambra States with the same results;
Egwu raised concerns that there have been lingering boundary demarcation case before the National Boundary Commission between Anambra, Enugu and Kogi States as ordinarily peace loving neighbours have had to resort to violent actions against each other due to the inaction of the Government.
"Cognizant that Oriental Resources Plc has, since 2012, been prospecting on OPL 915 and OPL 916, derivable from the three adjoining States of Kogi, Enugu and Anambra state," he said.
"These have not been commercially mined as it is still awaiting Oil Mining License (OML) from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) years after former President Goodluck Jonathan flagged off the operations of Oriental Petroleum Resources.
He further explained that the declaration of Kogi, Anambra and Enugu States as oil producing States will not in any way jeopardize the on-going field tracing and provisional boundary demarcation between the States by the National Boundary Commission but will rather aid in determining the percentage of derivation accruable to the three States.
Egwu also informed that hydrocarbon has been found in the Basin but not yet optimally utilized.
However, Hon. Herman Hembe (APC-Benue) said the boundary adjustment should be the focus since it is possible that a state already captured as an oil producing state could loose the title if boundary adjustment is finalized.
Hon. Hembe adopted the prayer that an Ad-hoc Committee should be set up to determine the available quantity of oil deposit before the declaration, a position he later denied which threw the House into pandemonium for over forty minutes, a situation that led the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara who was presiding to call for the replay of the tape so as to resolve the controversy.
Hon. Uker Jerv (APC-Benue) collaborated the views of Hembe while Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP Rivers) and Hon. Rotimi Akimtoye insisted that Hembe was misleading the House.
The Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP-Delta) further explained that for a state to be declared an oil producing state, it must have an oil well which is able to produce 10,000 barrels per day, adding that the ad-hoc committee should be able to meet with DPR and determine the quantity of Oil in these states.
Hon. Kingsley Chinda (APC-Rivers) reminded his colleagues that the last assembly declared Anambra an Oil producing state saying that the Oil belt cuts across the entire three states in question.
In an attempt to set the records straight, Hon. Jones Oyerere (PDP Imo) reminded his colleagues that there is nothing wrong with lawmakers drawing the attention of government to an issue that is national and for the well-being of its citizens.
As the controversy lingered, the verbatim Reporters replayed the statement of Hon. Hermbe to the plenary, leading to a stern warning from the Speaker to Hembe, laying to rest the denials to Hembe.
0 comments: