Obi: Oil Field Belongs to Anambra State

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has expressed shock at what he described as claims by some groups and states to the oil field discovered in Anambra State and insisted that the oil belongs to his state.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, the governor also wondered why the claims started after the successful inauguration of the facilities of Orient Petroleum by President Goodluck Jonathan when he visited the state on August 30, 2012. Tracing the formation of the oil company to the state, Governor Obi recalled that Orient Petroleum Resources Plc was formed during the administration of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju in 2001 and was allocated oil fields domiciled in the state. He noted that though Mbadinuju did not make any direct monetary contribution, the administration of Dr. Chris Ngige invested the sum of N100million in the project between 2003 and 2006. Obi also disclosed that between 2006 and 2009, his administration invested, directly and indirectly, the sum of N4.4 billion, which according to him, bolstered the confidence of other investors to invest in the venture that made its commissioning a reality. Obi assured that the State would remain a good neighbour and would continue to pray for oil to be discovered in other states so that Nigeria would emerge an economic giant in the comity of nations.

Protest over Designation of Anambra as Oil State

Following the designation of Anambra State as the 10th oil-producing state in Nigeria by President Goodluck Jonathan, three border communities between Enugu, Kogi and Anambra States are insisting that it was out of order for oil in their areas to be allocated to Anambra State.

Members of the three host communities in Enugu State involved in the oil wells dispute, have vowed to protect the oil in their place with the last drop of their blood. In a joint press statement the communities, Ojjor, Iggah and Asaba, all in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, berated the Enugu State Government over what it called “it’s obvious indifference in safeguarding the oil wells in our communities.” They accused the Enugu State Government of watching helplessly while Anambra State claimed the oil wells domiciled in their area.

President Jonathan exonerates Prof. Nnaji

President Goodluck Jonathan, at a town hall meeting in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State, said that he accepted Nnaji's resignation despite his accomplishment in the power sector during his short tenure to protect the privatization process. In his first comment on the matter, the president said that the former minister only resigned in order to give credibility to the privatization of the power sector. The president said before an assemblage of Anambra elite and the entire South-east, that he was seizing the opportunity of being in their midst to exonerate the minister.

According to the President, “I have to make it clear that Professor Nnaji is a very competent professor; he is a product of the World Bank, a professor of engineering. He is very competent in the sector but we agree that there are expectations and that is what happens all over the world”.

Prof. Nnaji, in an earlier statement had rebutted reports that he was forced out of government, saying that he voluntarily resigned his position to protect his integrity. He said he voluntarily resigned to protect his integrity, which he stated had come under scurrilous attacks recently by "powerful vested interests" that were hell bent on destroying all he had worked for over the years.

Anambra State now an oil producing state

The Federal Government announced that Anambra State has joined the list of oil bearing states in the country. The announcement was made by President Goodluck Jonathan while inaugurating Orient Petroleum’s Anambra River Production Facility in Aguleri-Otu. By this development, Anambra has joined the group of oil producing states like Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Abia, Bayelsa, Ondo, Delta and Edo.

Speaking at the ceremony, Jonathan said it was high time Nigeria stopped exporting crude oil and unprocessed agricultural produce. He said the country must begin to refine its crude oil before exporting it so that it could be more valuable. He wondered why the country would continue to export crude oil and then import refined petrol, kerosene and aviation fuel.