Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has said there is still hope that the revoked licence for OML 46 (also known as Atala Oilfield), belonging to Bayelsa State, will be returned to the state.
The Federal Government, through the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources, revoked the licence in April 2020 when another son of the state, Timipre Sylva, was the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
But, Lokpobiri, during a visit to Governor Douye Diri, on Tuesday, at the Government House, Yenagoa, expressed regrets that the Atala oilfield, a common patrimony of the state, was taken away.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Daniel Alabrah, quoted the minister to have said that he would do everything within his power to bring back the asset.
He explained that his visit was to seek collaboration with the state government to address issues concerning Bayelsa and for the state to reap the dividends of democracy.
The minister congratulated Diri on his re-election and sought the government’s partnership to curb pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.
He said the menace had resulted in the reduction of revenue from the federation account to oil producing states, adding that Bayelsa had zero derivation for about four months in 2023.
Lokpobiri also expressed concern over the level of pollution caused by illegal bunkering activities, noting that if the trend was not checked, it could be an existential threat.
He said: “Bayelsa is more polluted than Ogoni, in Rivers State, and we are the only people that can put a stop to it. We need to do something to protect our water and land resources.
“It is also important to note that illegal refineries affect the income of our state. The governor can attest to the fact that derivation money has been dwindling. There was zero derivation for months. We are changing our security architecture to one that could be more effective. So, we need to work together to change the narrative.”
Responding, Diri congratulated Lokpobiri on his appointment, appreciating President Bola Tinubu for appointing a worthy son of Bayelsa as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
