Bonga Oil Spill: Group Gives SNEPCO 14Days Ultimatum to Pay $3.6bn Compensation
Concerned Bonga Oil Spill Impacted Communities (CBOSIC) has given Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) a 14-day ultimatum to pay $3,600,191,206 as compensation to impacted communities as stipulated by Nigerian regulatory agencies.
The group, in a letter dated May 20, 2023, addressed to the Managing Director of SNEPCO, with copies made available to journalists in Warri,
responsibility of the two ad-hoc bodies was to ensure that every piece of information that would help a new administration get off to a speedy start was made available in a usable format and in a timely manner.
He stated, while giving the president-elect the transition documents, “Today, I am so proud to have handed over to you my successor, Your Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, three key documents that will guide you as you aim to define a path for your administration.
“It is my earnest desire that you will find these documents useful as this would be the first time in the history of this country that such detailed documentation will be produced for handover to a new administration. I strongly encourage you to uphold this legacy and make the experience even better for your successor by the time you are to leave office.
“It may also interest you to know that apart from these three documents, all the ministries and their agencies have also prepared their handover notes, ready to brief their new political leadership. I want to sincerely thank the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and his team for this great feat.”
On the transfer of a symbolic baton to Tinubu, Buhari said the incoming government would continue with the race of advancing democracy and development.
He said, “This is a first in the history of our nation’s transition process. To preserve this remarkable history for generations to come, I have directed that the baton be preserved in the presidential history wing of the National Archives and I hope that president-elect, Tinubu, and those after him will build on this tradition.”
In his response, Tinubu told Buhari to be ready to serve the country in other capacities after leaving office on May 29, saying stated that it was displeased with the company hiding under litigations to frustrate the efforts of the victims to get compensation for degradation of their environment and subsequent loos of their livelihoods.
In the letter, copies of which were made to the Chief Executive NUPRC; the Director DSS in Bayelsa; Commander Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) Bayelsa; Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, and AIG, Zone 16, Yenagoa, and signed by its
he would always be consulted, wherever he may be within or outside Nigeria.
He also vowed not to disappoint in the task of providing quality leadership to the country.
Tinubu told Buhari, “Whether you go to Daura or Niger or anywhere, you’ll expect knocks on your doors.
“We are determined, as enumerated, on security, economy, agriculture, jobs, education, health and power, and in all sectors. We must make headway as you’ve charted the course, the people deserve no less. You said so. I shall not disappoint you.”
The former Lagos State governor hailed Buhari for his democratic credentials, and for making history by recognising late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe as winners of the 1993 presidential election and honouring them with GCFR and GCON, respectively.
He, however, noted that he was not oblivious of the enormous responsibilities facing the administration he was about to lead, adding that he would not disappoint the expectations of Nigerians.
Tinubu said regarding Buhari, “Your devotion to progressive and democratic governance is unassailable. I stand here today, renewed in hope and dedication to our national greatness. I also feel full of pride that this moment is our moment and I know what it represents.
“This stately occasion is proof that Nigeria is a vibrant and true democracy. It confirms that our democratic path is right and nothing will deter us from sticking to it, I assure you.
“Our ways shall not be always smooth, yes, democracy is ‘rough and tumble’, hill and valley, yet we are imbued with faith in our purpose and believe in our collective ability to overcome the challenges chairman and secretary, Messrs Mike Tiemo and Gbigbi Nelson Andrew, CBOSIC threatened to take their destiny in their own hands at the expiration of the ultimatum.
CBOSIC said though it was aware that some impacted communities and victims were in court, its own claim was based on the findings and recommendations of the Nigerian regulatory agencies on the Bonga Oil Spill of December 20, 2011.
It recalled a notification of the sanction in respect of the oil spill dated
that confront us.
“President Buhari, you have shown courage in taking tough decisions others avoided. One such decision is to recognise the injustice of the annulment the 1993 election, to designate June 12 as a Democracy Day and to bestow the nation’s highest honour on late MKO Abiola.
"As much as anyone could, you reached back into history to set the record straight and heal the festering wound. Thank you. The justice you did in this matter lends special meanings to today.
“The people have put their trust in us, you have done your part, Mr. President, now a great duty will descend on me. I understand
They also include the Upstream Petroleum Safety Regulations; Upstream Petroleum Environmental Regulations; Upstream Petroleum Measurement Regulations; Advance Cargo Declaration Regulations; Significant Discovery Regulations; Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation Regulations; and Gas Flaring and Venting (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulations.
Furthermore, Komolafe stated that the inputs of the stakeholders from the various engagements were considered in the drafting of the regulations. He noted that they were subsequently forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for vetting, legislative standardisation and approval.
In his remarks, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, expressed the readiness of the initiative to collaborate to push the boundaries of transparency and accountability in the oil and gas industry.
He lauded the NUPRC for finding the courage and selflessness to enact
December 19, 2014, by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) an agency empowered by law as well as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) another apex maritime regulatory body which slammed $6.5b against the Shell Group on the Bonga Oil Spill.
"We also recall the Britannia Steamship Insurance Policy Number -04929000 on MT Nothia IMO Number -9399480: The Clandestine Shell Group FUGRO Finger Printing Report
the meaning of the honour given to me today and the magnitude of the task that awaits.”
He congratulated the president on the provision of a strong and visionary leadership for eight years, saying, “it is a great honour for me to stand before you today, but let me first of all say thank you Mr. President. I can only call you Mr. Democrat. You have bestowed the nation's highest on my vice president-elect, Shettima, and me.
“Our deep thanks also for the Transition Documents, which clearly enumerated the efforts of the past eight years. The documents summarise the immense works of your administration. They consist an impressive and noteworthy scorecard. some of the regulations, which would further strengthen the regulatory institution.
Orji reiterated that Nigeria lost over 600 million barrels of oil to theft and other sharp practices in the sector over a period of 12 years, amounting to about $46.16 billion or N16.25 trillion.
NNPC Eyes $2.1bn Gas Revenue, Executes 5 Suite of Agreements on OML 130 with Total, CNOOC, Others
Meanwhile, NNPC Limited executed five new deals covering the renewal of the OML 130 Production Sharing Contract, conversion of the acreage to a PML and three other deals.
The new deals were based on the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, and with the utmost aim of unlocking gas revenues of up to $ 2.1 billion for Nigeria in both short and long terms.
The execution of the deal for renewal, conversion to PML and
Number-J36194 and the Affirmation by two United Kingdom High Court Judges Hon. Justice Stuart-Smith, Hon. Justice O'Farrell and UK Supreme Court that oil Bonga FPSO reached the shoreline communities of Bayelsa and Delta States within weeks after the 20th December spill,” it added.
The group therefore declared, "We the concerned Bonga Oil Spill Communities have also realised how vicious the Shell Group has been devastating and polluting our environment over several decades
You have made history and no one can deny your contribution to our national development.”
Before the investiture ceremony, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, who is also Chairman of the Presidential Transition Council (PTC), gave a detailed briefing on the transmitted Transition Documents, which he said included three documents.
Mustapha stated that the transition documents handed over to the president-elect by Buhari were basically made up of briefing notes on each of: the nine priority areas of the outgoing administration, a compendium of the federal government’s priority three other agreements by all the parties took place in Abuja, and was witnessed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Gabriel Aduda.
THISDAY gathered that the deal was part of the gas commercialisation programme being considered by NNPC, which seeks to end the perennial dispute over OML) 130, thereby upscaling the country’s crude oil output to about three million barrels per day and unlock gas revenues to the tune of about $2.1 billion in both short and long terms for the country.
NNPC executed the deals with its partners, including Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPNG), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), South Atlantic Petroleum Nigeria Limited (SAPETRO), and Prime 130 Limited, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
A statement issued by NNPC after the signing of the deals said the suite included PSC Contract between NNPC Limited and its contractors, China National Offshore with impunity while hiding under needless and endless litigations to deliberately frustrate and impoverish our communities to avoid liability."
CBOSIC noted that in the light of the fact that Shell Group had no regard for the Nigerian regulatory agencies and the federal government, they decided to take their destiny in their own hands and take necessary actions to force the company to pay what was due to them as compensation for their lost livelihoods.
programmes and projects; and the status of policies implemented.
Speaking at the event, also, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, noted that the election that ushered the president-elect and his vice in, had been adjudged the most credible in the history of Nigeria, adding that the credit for the process must go to Buhari.
Meanwhile, guests in their hundreds, including members of the diplomatic corps, braced the State House snail-speed security checks on the roads traversing from the Federal Secretariat and Fire Service routes, to witness the epoch making conferment.
Oil Corporation (CNOOC) & South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) with Total Upstream Nigeria (TUPNI) as the operator; Heads of Agreement (HoA) Amendment between NNPC Limited, TUPNI, SAPETRO, PRIME 130, & CNOOC; a Settlement Repayment Agreement (SRA) Addendum between NNPC and its Contractors (CNOOC & SAPETRO).
Others were Concession Contracts for one Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL) and three Petroleum Mining Leases (PML) and Lease & License Instruments between NNPC, TUPNI, SAPETRO, PRIME 130 and NUPRC.
The national oil company further emphasised that the deals paved the way for firming up Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Preowei, amounting to $ 2.1 billion.
It further explained that the Preowei project would subsequently be followed by Egina South projects lined up by TUPNI and the OML 130 partners to introduce additional volumes to the best-in-class Egina Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel.