‘Niger Delta crisis forced drop in oil revenue from N6b to N1.5b’

• Monarch urges firm to end gas flaring in Onelga

The Delta State government yesterday disclosed that the crisis in the Niger Delta caused oil revenue to drop from N6billion to N1.5billion.

The state Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mofe Pirah, stated this in Asaba.

Briefing journalists on government’s commitment to peaceful co-existence, he said the move became necessary following threats by some militants to renew their hostilities.

He explained that the government would continue to broker peace to ensure that oil companies relocate their headquarters to the region.

The commissioner stressed that the relocation was needed to grow the oil and gas industry to develop the area.

Pirah, who is the head of the delegation to the oil communities said: “In the last two years, Delta State has been witnessing a fall in oil production due to the insecurity in the oil producing communities.

“The problem caused oil production to drop from 600, 000 barrels per day to about 200, 000 barrels per day.”

He explained that if the region was peaceful, the multinational oil companies would return to boost the progress and prosperity of the people.

“The emergency at hand is to create an enabling environment for the return of these multinational oil companies to help in addressing poverty and the socio-economic challenges in the communities. There is also the need for a sustained synergy among all critical development partners,” he said.

Meanwhile, the paramount ruler of Egi clan in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council Area of Rivers State, Prof. Anele Nwokoma, has given the management of Total E & P Nigeria (TEPENG) two years to end gas flaring in the area.

Nwokoma made the call at the weekend, when the Managing Director of TEPENG, Mr. Nicolas Terraz paid him a courtesy visit.

The monarch lamented that the gas flared by the firm in the last 50 years would have earned it more than 50 per cent of its net profit.

He solicited gas bottling as an alternative, to create jobs for the over 1000 unemployed people in the area.

He also urged the firm to create an enabling environment for the immediate establishment of modular refinery to further create jobs.

Nwokoma lamented that the different memoranda of understanding signed with the firm had not been implemented, beyond providing social welfare o the people.