The Federal Government has launched an investigation into complaints made by oil-producing communities in Bayelsa State on land grabbing by international oil companies including the Nigerian Agip Oil Company and Shell Petroleum Development Company.
The investigative team led by the Director of Upstream Department at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Kamoru Busari, and officials of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, Nigerian Police and Bayelsa State Government, embarked on a fact-finding mission to Biseni, Enebele, Ogbia and Gbaran Communities in Bayelsa State.
A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources stated that the probe was in response to a petition by Agi Bestman, the Coordinator of the Niger Delta MOU/ Corporate Social Responsibilities, on behalf of the aggrieved communities.
In the petition, the communities accused the two oil giants – Agip and Shell – of land-grabbing without adequate compensation in the form of underpayment of tenancy rent.
The statement stated that the experts commenced the exercise with a meeting with senior Bayelsa State Government officials, including the commissioner and permanent secretary in the State Ministry of Mineral Resources, Yenagoa, the state capital.
Thereafter, the team proceeded to Biseni Kingdom, Ogbia, Gbaran, and Enebele Community, where town-hall meetings were held with traditional rulers, landlords, and some indigenes
The team toured oil facilities in Biseni Kingdom comprising Idu Well 1,13 & 14 which are operated by Agip, and Adibawa Well 1 and Koroama Manifold operated by SPDC, and many others, according to the petroleum ministry.
“During the interactive sessions, the chiefs and some landlords said their family lands were grabbed by the oil companies without adequate compensation or rent paid to the family.
“Some families alleged that they were being paid inadequately while some alleged non-payment at all,” the ministry stated in its statement.
Agip, in a letter to the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, requested a meeting with the petitioner and the groups he represents to resolve their grievances.
On its part, Shell in a communication with the committee’s Chairman, Busari, promised to send an official request for rescheduling of meetings with the committee due to the non-availability of the relevant top management officers who were at the time of the visit hosting the Nigerian oil and gas conference in Abuja.
