Niger Delta indigenes frown at FG’s licensing of oil blocs, issue 7-day ultimatum for reversal
A group, under the auspices of Niger Delta indigenes, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to reverse the 2024 licensing and 2022/23 Mini Bid Round for oil blocs in the region.
The group, in a statement yesterday, alleged that the process of issuing the license was discriminatory and unlawful as it was in clear violation of the Petroleum Industry Act, which is the Commission’s operational guideline, reports Daily Independent.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive of NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Counsel to the aggrieved Niger Deltans, Blessing Agbomhere notified the Commission of the intention of his clients to begin legal proceedings against it, if at the end of the seven days notice the commission fails to carry out a fresh bidding process for the Oil blocs in conformity with the fundamental principles of fairness, equity, and inclusivity.
The legal firm listed its clients include Undiandeye Akonfe, James Okeati, Chief Victor Akposeseye Okiri, Fortune Nakoro, and Arc. Kenneth Anyanwu, Okwara Idika, Akpan Edem, Otetubi Tolulope and Olali Solomon, said they are Critical Stakeholders who believe in the peace and prosperity of the Niger Delta Region as patriotic indigenes of the Nigeria Delta.
The letter read in parts, “You will also recall that Niger Delta stakeholders are key contributors to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and have been unjustly excluded from the licensing process despite their substantial investments, environmental sacrifices and statutory rights under the Petroleum Industry Act.
“The two-year delay in the licensing round has raised significant concerns about transparency, regulatory compliance, and the economic viability of the process.
“Excluding the Niger Delta Companies from benefiting from the resources in their region could lead to renewed agitation and conflict in the region. A licensing process that excludes critical stakeholders from resource governance undermines the peace-building efforts achieved through years of negotiation with Host communities.”
According to the legal firm, the intending plaintiffs are seeking the declaration of the allocation of oil blocs to Companies whose majority shareholders are all from outside the Niger Delta region and whose head offices are not located within the region as against the expression of interest by persons who hail from the Niger Delta region is a violation of sections 15(1), 42(1), and 318(1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), the Petroleum Industry Act and the Nigerian Content Development Act.
