• Thursday, March 28, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

Group protests Anambra exclusion from oil producing state

Group protests Anambra exclusion from oil producing state

Host Community of Nigeria (HOSCON) Producing Oil and Gas, Anambra State chapter, on Thursday peacefully demonstrated against the exclusion of the state from oil producing states in the country.

No fewer than 70 persons with some placards from four major oil and gas communities, Aguleri Otu, Enugu Otu, Ogwu-Anacha and Ogwu-Ikpele of the state took their protest to the NNPC mega station retail outlet and Government House, all in Awka, to demand the inclusion of the state as one of oil-producing states.

Some placards inscription include “Anambra is qualified and deserves all the trapping of an oil-producing state! Stop denying her that, We are Anambra, We are oil producing DPR declare us ooo and Stop oil bunkering in Anambra State, Give us our 13 percent!!!”
Tony Chiokwe and Emeka Ilouno, state chairman and leader, Elders Advisory Council, respectively, led the group in the peaceful demonstration.

Chiokwe told newsmen that the state was long over due as an oil producing state, saying seven years of sufficient oil prospecting in the state was supposed to have earned the state full recognition as an oil producing state.
“With its attendant benefits, but no, we are still being denied that status,” he said.
He said former President Goodluck Jonathan had on August 30, 2013 declared Anambra State as oil producing state, with Orient Petroleum prospecting in Enugu Otu.

“Since then, other oil companies have entered the terrain, prospecting oil in the state. While OPL 815, 816 and 817 are allocated to two oil companies, Sterling Global has since 2013 been exploring oil in Ogwu-Ikpele and Ogwu Anaocha.
“At Ogwu-Ikpele, they are not only prospecting oil but flaring gas; two activities that are seriously degrading the environment.
“Most disturbing is that they drill in Anambra state and pipe the crude to Delta state, from where it is barged and exported, thereby making it look as if the oil is prospected from Delta state,” Chiokwe said.

According to Chiokwe, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is still in denial of the presence of Sterling Global in the state.
“As we speak, the oil rig/platform of Sterling Global is standing on Anambra soil.
“We demand that DPR/FGN should confirm the presence of Sterling Global on Anambra fields and consequently extend all the benefits due to our state, as an oil producing state, to us,” he said.