Why Shell must not relocate from Niger Delta- Dogara

Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday, said that the need to stem further deterioration into anarchy in the Niger Delta region was the reason why Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) should not relocate from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Lagos.

The Speaker disclosed this at the inauguration of an Ad-Hoc committee to investigate the planned relocation of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) from Rivers State and report back to the House within four weeks.

Dogara, who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Majority Whip of the House, Rep. Pally Iriase (Edo-APC), said that improved relationship between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta region was crucial in addressing some economic challenges confronting the country.

He said: “Relocation by the SPDC is said to be based on security concerns today. This has generated outcry and agitation by the people and if we as a House do not address it, it may escalate and result to violence and insecurity.

“This is because the Niger Delta region sits atop oil wells where much of our revenue as a nation is derived from. The onus lies on
the Federal Government and the House to ensure that justice on Niger Delta region is not denied”.

He, therefore, urged the committee to come up with report that will not only be fair but seen to be fair by all concerned.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee, Rep. Ishiaka Ibrahim, (OgunAPC), promised that the committee
will deliver on its mandate by meeting with all the relevant stakeholders to address the matter.

According to him, no party should nurse any ulterior motive because the committee will be fair in the process.

“We shall engage all relevant stakeholders in order to come up with report and recommendation that would stand the test of time.
“We shall also consider all factors surrounding the conception of the decision of the SPDC planned relocation from Port Harcourt,’’
Ibrahim said.

It would be recalled that the House on January 26, adopted a motion sponsored by Rep. Kingsley Chinda (Rivers-PDP), to set up an adhoc committee to prevail on Shell’s planned relocation from Port Harcourt.

Chinda expressed concern that several youths and stakeholders in the region were provoked and were already protesting the planned relocation which will further escalate militant activities in the region.

The youth restiveness, Chinda said, will affect the Nigerian economy that was already experiencing recession due to low crude oil
output.

The House, therefore, called on the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu and the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NPIMS) and Shell to suspend the planned relocation and allow it to intervene.