Federal Government Directs Oil Companies Headquaters To Relocate To Niger-Delta

Nigeria's Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has given directives to the International Oil Companies operating in the Niger-Delta region to relocate their headquarters to their States of operation to mitigate tension in host communities.

Osinbajo, gave the directive at a Town Hall meeting in
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Thursday during
continuation visit to the region to dialogue with
stakeholders.

The Acting President urged the Minister of State,
Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to begin the process of
engaging the International Oil Companies on the way
forward to actualize the directive, saying “I think it is the
right thing to do”.

He disclosed that, the Ministry of Petroleum is also
working with major oil companies on several initiatives
including; working on illegal refineries to establish modular refineries to achieve the desired result.

On the Federal Government amnesty programme for ex-
agitators, Osinbajo re-iterated the federal government
stand noting that, the Ministry of Petrolum and Amnesty
office are working with the state governments of the
region on providing the benefits to young people in the
states.

He emphasized on the importance of the Ibaka deep Sea
port project, saying that, the Federal Government is
seriously committed to its realization.
According to him, “Indeed as a matter of fact, in the 2017
budget there is already a provision for the Ibaka port.

There is already N1billion provision. It is a matter we
take seriously to partner with the Akwa Ibom State
Government”, urging state governments in the region to
attract private investments in their domain in order to
create employment opportunities for the youths.

Earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel appealed to the
Federal Government to integrate Akwa Ibom indigenes
who were left out in the amnesty programmes, as well as
stressed the need for the reactivation of the Aluminum
Smelter Company (ALSCON) at Ikot Abais local
government area of the state to create more opportunities
for the people.

He said, “With facilities we have in ALSCON, we cannot
see it anywhere in Africa; from the services, communication to power generation you can create seven profits centres”.
Governor Emmanuel, while commending Prof. Osinbajo
for the visit, further solicited the support of the federal
government for the completion of the maintenance,
repairs and overhaul (MRO) facilities at the Akwa Ibom
International airport to assist repairs of aircrafts assuring
that, any financial assistance for the completion of the
MRO will be refunded in no time from revenue generated
from the repairs of aircrafts.