The House of Representatives, yesterday, resloved to invite the minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and the managing director (MD) of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over the bidding process of an oil block with the Oil Mining Lease (OML) II by the oil company.
The decision was sequel to a motion sponsored by Uzoma Nkem-Abonta (PDP, Abia) on the Shell-owned OML II and the need for strict adherence on Local Content policy.
Consequently, the House mandated its Standing Committees on Local Content, Justice and Petroleum Resources to invite Allison-Madueke and the SPDC MD in order to investigate the bidding process of the oil block in question.
Earlier in his lead debate, Nkem-Abonta noted that the SPDC is desirous of relinquishing its interests in the OML II and given the circumstances surrounding the oil company’s intended exit from the said oil block, there was the need for compliance with the Local Content Act in order to host communities in the bidding process of the OML II as it will soon be put up for sale.
The host communities are Gokana and Tai in Ogoni community; Oyigbo, Asa, Ukwa Oil Field in Abia State; and Adoni, Opobo and Bonny in Rivers State.
Meanwhile, in another development, the House also, yesterday, mandated its committee on Gas Resources to urgently investigate the non-payment of the compensation for the aquisition of 205 plots of land by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) since 1996 in Omoku, Rivers State.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Akpodiogaga Emeseye on the matter. The House decision was with a view to prevailing on the NLNG to pay fair compensations to the owners.