RECENTLY, Kogi State Deputy Governor, Arc Abayomi Awoniyi, said he was in Aguleri-Otu, Anambra State for the commissioning, by President Goodluck Jonathan, of the Anambra Basin oil well belonging to the Chief Emeka Anyaoku-led Orient Petroleum Resources (OPR).On arrival, a statement was issued in Lokoja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mike Abu, indicating that Kogi was on the verge of joining the league of oil producing states. The statement, thus, became the cause of fresh anxiety and debate in the public domain partly pointing to the fact that the state government might be interested in the Anambra's potential oil fortune.Awoniyi stressed that the State was excited over the inauguration of the newly established refinery, as it would be a major stakeholder considering thediscovery and exploration of oil wells in Odeke community in Ibaji Local Council of the State.But surrounding the contentious issues arising from the ownership of the oil wells, which, though was found in Anambra River Basin, was on expanse of reserve underground with an overlay of several states, including Kogi, are questions begging for answers.What was Kogi's stake in the new refinery to warrant the state delegating its representative to the commissioning ceremony' What did the deputy governor mean by his pronouncement that the State would soon become oil producer' Who, among Kogi, Anambra and Enugu, is the real owner of those oil wells in contention' With reports credited to President Jonathan and proclaiming Anambra as 10th oil producing State, without a mention of Kogi, has the government not conceded the oil wells to Anambra State'Curiously, in a recent letter, chairman of the state's boundary committee has alerted the deputy governor of alleged attempts to try to re-draw the boundaries between the affected states to claim that the oil wells are in Anambra and Enugu States, while excluding Kogi.Interestingly, the State Government, Awoniyi hinted, was doing every thing 'humanly possible' to resolve the issues surrounding the location of the oil wells with the contending states. He said thestate had approached the National Boundary Commission on the issue.Meanwhile, between 1952 and and 1986, oil-prospecting firms like Elf (now Total FinaELF), Shell BP (SPDC), and AGIP Energy are believed to have drilled 25 exploration wells, two appraisal wells and eight core-wells in the entire basin. Most of the sites were believed to have been plugged and abandoned upon payment of royalties to affected communities. Orient was only granted license by the Federal Government in 2009 to commence oil exploration work.According to a report by the Ibaji Oil and Gas Committee set up in 2011 to interface between the oil company and the host communities, Ibaji people were oblivious of the activity of the company 'until 2011 when it carried out the outline cutting and laying of pipes along the villages around the boundaries.'Currently, there are four oil wells being handled by OPR ' well one, two, three and four. The oil well four, which is code named 'Anambra River Well 4' is where major activities are being carried out at the moment, The Guardian gathered. Despite the hues and cries, Awoniyi allayed fears of contention of ownership.He said he was at the commissioning of the oil facility to represent Kogi State and its interests on the invitation of Orient.But, according to Mr. Olusegun Iselaiye, Kogi-born public affairs analyst,what remains unclear to Nigerians and the people of Kogi State, in particular, is the definition of Kogi State as 'major stakeholder' in the oil well.Iselaiye said: 'As we all know, the OPL 915oilfield on which Orient Petroleum currently operates cuts across a number of states, including Kogi. Historical evidence even reveals that oil exploratory activities have been carried out in Kogi State, precisely in Ibaji Local Government Area, as far back as 1970s. It is history that speaks for Kogi State in terms of what it holds as a stake in the new well. So, let the Federal Government and Orient work on what history tells us to define Kogi's stake.'We may need to check with the Federal Government whether, or not, there are any established criteria, which are meant to qualify a state as an oil producing state. In the absence of such criteria, then any state that has oil deposit and where oil production takes place can declare itself an oil producing state.'Speaking on the dispute between the involved states over the ownership, Iselaiye noted that it is the constitutional responsibility of the Nigerian Boundary Commission (NBC) to properly and permanently define the boundaries between the states to avert possible communal clashes. He observed that the NBC explores historical evidence with regard to the oil exploratory activities that have been carried out in Kogi State and the alleged compensations that have been given to some communities in the state.Iselaiye quipped: 'The President made that pronouncement (declaring Anambra 10th oil producing state) probably because the Anambra State Government has made more visible efforts in oil production. I believe that is why the President made that comment. So, Kogi State needs to do the same or even better; and I hope the recent comments coming from Governor Idris Wada and his deputy will be backed by action. Comments alone cannot do it. We need action.'Awoniyi, however, denied that the president made the declaration, saying the confusion came from the media. Mr. President did not say that. I was there and I don't see how one can make that extension. The oil well is in Anambra River Basin; it is a very large expanse of reserve underground stretching across several states. Even the basin has been divided into several OPL, Orient has 915 and 916. One of the well is alrealy in Kogi State, while other wells are in Anambra State. You can drill as many holes as you want in the basin. There was a well that was drilled by ELF years ago, which was called Obisi 1. ELF left the well because it felt it was not a viable one.Orient applied to DPR and it was allocated the concession; it went to the well, developed it and named it Anambra River 1. As far as its operation is concerned, they named it, and that still does not mean that it has excluded Kogi's claim of being a stakeholder in the river basin.Kogi State Liaison Officer for Ibaji Council, Mr. David Ina Ogu, urged the government to push the matter further. According to him: 'There is no time the oil is in any place other than Kogi. That is the truth about it.' I am talking from an eyewitness view. As far back as 1976, I was part of the team that went there to do vacation job on the site. That was when I was in form four. I have it on strong account that Elf paid compensation to Odeke community for damages to their farm produce. So, Orient should agree that the activities it carries out are in Ibaji and the piping they did was between Echeno and Odeke until they got to the well that is now producing. Kogi State appointed a liaison officer, Daniel Omatola, on the request of Orient on the recognition that Kogi has a stake.'All that they have been able to do (which qualifies Anambra as oil producing State) was to lay a pipe 10 kilometers away from the well right at the backyard of Odeke in Ibaji and passed out to River Anambra in an Igala speaking community in Enugu State not even in Anambra.'The place they are flaring gas now is not even anywhere near Anambra State. What is referred to as Anambra Basin or River Anambra does not specifically mean Anambra territory. The river starts from Ankpa, Kogi State.'The Ibaji Council boss said the ongoing discussions are what the President needs to establish the real owner of the well. He said the President acted on the information before him when he made his pronouncement.'The site visited by the President is Kogi land just that owners of Orient are stakeholders in Anamabra.'Daniel Omatola, who was appointed by Kogi State Government to liaise between it and OPR, said the onus is on the state to do all that is necessary to assert its ownership.Those Laying Claim To Anambra Oil Raised No Issue Until Commissioning '' ObiWhile neigbouring states lay claim to the ownership of the oil well operated by Orient Petroleum Resources Plc, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra argues in a television broadcast last week that the block belongs to his state.He said: 'On August 30, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan was in Anambra State on a one-day working visit to commission the Orient Petroleum facilities among many other projects. Since then, some groups and states have been trying to lay claims to the ownership of the oil field located in Anambra State.It is pertinent to recall that Orient was formed by the administration of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju in 2001 and allocated oil fields domiciled in Anambra State. The board is peopled by prominent Nigerians of Anambra extraction, such as Chief Emeka Anyaoku (Chairman), Dr. Alex Ekwueme (Vice-Chairman) andChief Arthur Mbanefo.Though Dr. Mbadinuju did not make any direct monetary contribution, under Dr. Chris Ngige, Anambra State Government invested the sum of N100 Million naira (N100 Million) in the project. With the vision and belief in the positive impact of the project on the economy, the present administration investedN4.4 billion in it directly and indirectly. This bolstered the confidence of other investors in the venture, thus making its commissioning a reality.'Whilst my predecessors never visited the site, I personally laid the foundation of the refinery. I have also visited the site several times since 2006 during which no group or state raised ownership issue.'It is also pertinent to note that till date, neither the groups nor the states laying claim to the oil field have, directly or indirectly, invested akobo in the project; whereas, Anambra State and its citizens have invested several billions.'Let me state that Anambra State believes in good neighbourliness and will,in conformity with our nature, always admire and celebrate other states, which may become producers ofoil or any other mineral resource in the future. However, we believe that people's hardwork, sacrifices and investment should be allowed to match their opportunities.'Anambra State will remain a good neighbour and will continue to pray that oil be discovered in other states so that Nigeria will emerge an economic giant among the comity of nations.
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