By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Anambra is now officially an oil producer, bringing to 10 the number states in the exclusive club comprising historical members Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Rivers, and Lagos who share extra 13 per cent oil funds.
All these 10 Southern states are also fended for by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which provides yearly, billions of naira worth of social welfare, scholarships, and infrastructure.
President Muhammadu Buhari approved Anambra’s status in a letter written on his behalf by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, to Governor Willie Obiano.
It was in response to a letter Obiano wrote to Buhari on August 24 requesting official declaration of Anambra as an oil and gas bearing state.
Anambra is automatically entitled to 13 per cent of the sale of petroleum resources from 11 oil wells in its territory, including Nzam-1, Alo-1, Ameshi-1, 2, and 3, and Enyie-1, 2, 3 and 4, Information Commissioner Don Adinuba said in a statement.
Approvals conveyed to all states concerned
Buhari upheld the decision of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) that 13 per cent of proceeds from Anambra 1, 2, and 3 oil wells be shared equally between Anambra and Kogi until their boundary dispute is settled.
He also approved the attribution of Okpo-1 and Oda River-1 oil wells to Edo and Iji-1 oil well to Delta.
The approvals have been conveyed to Petroleum Resources Minister of State Timepre Sylva, RMAFC Chairman Elias Mbam, and Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed for immediate action, according to Adinuba.
They have also been conveyed to Governors Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).
“The president’s decision is wise and swiftly,” Obiano said when it was conveyed him to him on Thursday, the statement recounted.
“It has been a tough, relentless and strategic battle which our administration waged on behalf of the people of Anambra State in the last two years when we received intelligence reports that Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Producing Company of India has not only illegally and surreptitiously been producing oil since 2014 in the twin towns of Ogwuaniocha and Ogwuikpele in Ogbaru Local Government Area without conducting the statutory environmental and social impact assessment but also attributing the petroleum resources produced from these places to Delta State.”
“Despite all we did to resolve the matter amicably with the Indian firm, it refused to cooperate which necessitated us to drag them to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Department of Petroleum Resources which regulates the petroleum industry, the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of the Environment.”
Obiano grateful to contributors to success
Adinuba said Obiano thanked Anambra people from different walks of life for their “massive and strategic support during the struggle to give Anambra State its due in oil and gas production in the country, and thanked in particular some individuals from the state for their outstanding roles in the campaign.”
Obiano listed the individuals to include
· Charles Ofoegbu, a geophysics professor
· Frank Edozie, former Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) employee
· Solo Chukwulobelu, Secretary to the State Government
· Theresa Obiekezie, Youth and Creative Economy Commissioner
· Patricia Igwebuike, Governor’s Adviser on Legal Matters and Petroleum Resources
· Arinze Awogu, Ogbaru Council Transition Committee Chairman
“These are great patriots, highly knowledgeable and first-class professionals, courageous”, Obiano said of the committee members who worked with him round the clock to ensure Anambra’s oil-bearing status.
Eight years’ journey to official status
Anambra’s journey to official oil producing state began in 2013 when Orient Petroleum, a private firm supported by the state government, began producing oil in Aguleri in Anambra East Council
“No sooner we began than Aguleri Otu people were attacked by neighbours in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, leading to loss of lives and huge assets as well as other serious developments,” recalled Marcel Ifejiofor, Works Commissioner, then Orient Petroleum senior engineer.
“We are confident that the ownership of the oil wells currently in dispute will be resolved in favour of Anambra State when the boundary dispute between Aguleri Otu and Ibaji is settled by the National Boundary Commission.
“It has been a long walk to retrieve what belongs to us.”