Militants ask UN to free Niger Delta people, to display currency, flag, passport - OWNERS OF OIL BLOCKS IN THE BIGHT OF BENIN

By Emma Amaize & Brisibe Perez WARRI—NIGER

Delta Avengers, yesterday,  listed some oil blocs which it claimed are owned by some prominent Nigerians, among whom are former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Defence,  General Theophilus Danjuma (retd), late ex-Minister of Petroleum, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, a two-week ultimatum to shut down their operations and evacuate their workers from the locations or have them blown up. The militant group, pressing for a sovereign state of the Niger Delta, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, warned: “If at the end of the ultimatum you are still operating, we will blow up all the locations.

It will be bloody. So, just shut down your operations and leave.” The oil blocs listed are: “Apo Well awarded to Sapetro Oil. Apo field is capable of producing 300,000 barrels per day and crude reserve of 500 million barrels

* OML 110 Obe oil field owned  by Alhaji Mai Daribe, Cavendish Petroleum, with an estimated 500 million barrels of crude oil worth $50 billion after tax.

*Akpo condensate field awarded to Sapetro Oil. This field is worth $100 billion.

*OML 112 and OML 117 awarded to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company. It is worth $150bn after tax.

*OML 115 also known as Oldwok field and Ebok field and both are worth $200 billion.

*OML 215 awarded to and operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited. The field is worth $100 billion after tax. *OML 108 awarded to Express Petroleum Company . This field is worth $128 billion.

* OML 113  is $150 billion. * OML 112 and OML 117.

*OML 67 is worth $180 billion. * OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas. It is worth $50 billion. *OPL 289 and OPL 233 were awarded to Cleanwater Consortium. The two fields are worth $200 billion. *OPL 288 was awarded to Focus Energy. The field is worth $70 billion.

* OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited. The field is worth $100 billion.

The group said: “From our analysis above, 90 per cent of oil blocs are allocated to individuals from Northern Nigeria and some confused elements from the region are calling the Niger Delta Avengers names, some are calling us criminals.” On the rumour that oil has been discovered in the North- East, it said: “How will you feel if the oil allegedly found is being managed by Niger Deltans? We are very sure that Niger Deltans will not even have two per cent oil bloc if oil is really found in the North-East. If you do not shut down, we will shut your stations permanently for you.” Flag, currency, passport The group hinted: “By October 2016, we will display our currency,  national flag, passport, our ruling council and our territory to the world. “To the United Nations, we are not asking for much, but to free the people of the Niger Delta from environmental pollution, slavery, and oppression. 

We want a country that will turn the creeks of the Niger Delta to a tourism haven, a country that will achieve its full potentials, a country that will make health care system accessible by everyone.” Strike teams “The Commander of Strike Team 9 of the Niger Delta Avengers is from Eastern Nigeria. So, nobody should limit this struggle to the Ijaws of the Niger Delta. The leader of Strike Team 6 that blew up Chevron Valve Platform is Itsekiri.

The Commander of our elite Strike Team One is from Akwa Ibom.” Purported threat to Kachikwu It explained: “No agent or representative of the Avengers called the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Group Managing Director, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to threaten his life.” Wike condemns pipelines blow up Meanwhile, Rivers  State  governor,  Nyesom Wike, has  condemned the  blowing up  of pipelines in the Niger Delta  by militants,  saying that it was  not in the interest of  the  region, as it will negatively affect the revenue accruing to the states for development. He assured that the  states of the Niger Delta will work  with  the  Federal Government  and security  agencies to ensure  the  stoppage of pipelines vandalism  by militants. In an interview  with  German  Television,  ARD, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Governor Wike said: “Blowing up  pipelines will further decrease our revenue, which will affect payment  of salaries  and  development  projects.” Meanwhile, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, in Delta State, yesterday, asked Niger Delta Avengers to have a rethink and halt the bombing of oil and gas installations to avert further destruction of the deteriorated environment.

National coordinator of the group, Sheriff Mulade, in a statement, said: “Although it is important to agitate for the development of the region, it is wrong to destroy the environment in the process because it takes a long time to remediate a destroyed environment. “Militants cannot continue to use Niger Delta communities and kingdoms as a war front to the detriment of the environment, image and people of the region. “Gbaramatu communities are not at war with the Federal Government and security agencies. The Centre, therefore, appeals to relevant authorities to employ intelligence in fishing out the culprits and bring them to book.” Similarly, Commandant General, Riverine Security (Coast Guard of the Federation), Commander Bibi Oduku, has said that the militants bombing oil installations in Delta State under the cover of Niger Delta Avengers, hail from Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.

via VANGUARD