• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Omo-Agege replies NNPC on relocation of gas company 

Senate will create enabling environment for Buhari to work – Omo-Agege
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has replied the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, saying he spoke from an informed position.
The NNPC had in a press statement released by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu described as unfortunate statement credited to Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege where he reportedly condemned alleged moves by the Corporation to relocate NGC headquarters from the Niger Delta region.
Responding to the NNPC statement on Monday, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, said that his principal spoken from a position of informed  knowledge.
He said that it was very unfortunate that the NNPC would rather deploy such “indecorous and intemperate language to dismiss efforts to douse anxieties, especially in a matter that touches on the economic prosperity  of the Niger Delta region.”
Odunuga noted that there has been widespread anxieties among stakeholders in the Niger Delta over alleged plans for the relocation of the NGC.
He said the issue has been on the front burner for many months before the Deputy President of the Senate drew attention to it during the ministerial screening.
The statement read in part; “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation stating that the Deputy President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege , was either misinformed or must have been quoted out of context.
“Specifically, he had sought a commitment that the planned relocation of the headquarters of the Nigerian Gas Company from Ekpan-Warri in Delta state should be dropped as it’s relocation could jeopardise developmental strides in the area.
“While it is gratifying that the NNPC, in the statement signed by its General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, has assured all the stakeholders in the region that neither  the NGC nor any of its other subsidiaries would be relocated outside the area of operation, the following clarifications have become necessary.
“The issue, it must be stressed, was the focus of a peaceful youthful protest by Niger Delta youths earlier in January this year at the premises of the NGC and this disrupted the activities of the gas firm until an official from the Delta State Government and other stakeholders  intervened and normalcy was restored.
“This particular event was widely reported and it was given ample coverage in The Guardian newspaper of January 8, 2019 with the title “Delta youths protest against planned relocation of gas company.’
“As far as the Deputy Senate President is concerned, he would continue to maintain his demand that multinationall oil companies should, in compliance with an earlier plea made by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, relocate their headquarters to the region while guaranteeing  the safety of the workers. This will further help in the accelerated economic and physical development of the area as there would be massive employment opportunities with anticipated return of the oil servicing firms that also relocated alongside the multinationall companies.
“The Deputy Senate President aims to leverage on his position to ensure that complete peace returns to the Niger Delta so that it’s people can further access the benefits of President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic plans and thereby attain the potential of a truly blessed region.