The Minister of State for Petroleum Sources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has assured the Bayelsa State Authorities of the chance that the revoked licence for OML 46, also called Atala Oilfield, belonging to the state shall be returned to the state.
Lokpobiri, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, gave the peace of mind throughout a go to to Governor Douye Diri on the Authorities Home, Yenagoa, on Tuesday.
This was conveyed in a press release issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday.
The Federal Authorities, by way of the defunct Division of Petroleum Sources, had in controversial circumstances revoked the licence in April 2020 when one other son of the state, Timipre Sylva, was the minister of state for petroleum assets.
Lokpobiri expressed regrets that the Atala oilfield, a standard patrimony of the state, was taken away, saying he would do all the things inside his energy to carry again the asset.
He defined that his go to was to hunt collaboration with the state authorities to deal with points regarding Bayelsa and for the state to reap the dividends of democracy.
The minister congratulated Diri on his re-election and sought the federal government’s partnership to curb pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.
He mentioned the oil theft menace had resulted within the discount of income from the Federation Account to oil-producing states, including that Bayelsa had zero derivation for about 4 months in 2023.
Lokpobiri, additionally expressed concern over the extent of air pollution brought on by unlawful bunkering actions, noting that if the development was not checked, it could possibly be an existential menace.
He mentioned, “Bayelsa State is extra polluted than Ogoni in Rivers State and we’re the one folks that may put a cease to it. We have to do one thing to guard our water and land assets.
“It is usually vital to notice that unlawful refineries have an effect on the revenue of our state. The governor can attest to the truth that derivation cash has been dwindling. There was zero derivation for months. We’re altering our safety structure to at least one that could possibly be simpler. So, we have to work collectively to alter the narrative.”
The Bayelsa governor congratulated Lokpobiri on his appointment and appreciated President Bola Tinubu for appointing a worthy son of Bayelsa as minister of State for Petroleum Sources.
Diri assured the apex authorities of his administration’s preparedness to associate with it to examine oil theft and unlawful bunkering, which had adversely affected the ecosystem.
He pressured the necessity to contain governors of the Nigeria Delta states working collectively to stamp out the menace.
He mentioned, “We wish to see the optimistic influence of your workplace. We’re on a brand new journey to alter the trajectory of your workplace. That’s the reason l am pained that it was in your time that the workplace was balkanized. Bayelsa has extra fuel than oil. So we might have been happier in case you have been presiding over fuel as properly.
“We want extra trade of concepts. As we speak, you could have given us hope. You have got assured me that Atala oilfield will come again to Bayelsa.
“I consider that you’ll proper a number of wrongs accomplished to our folks. No Bayelsa man has an oil mining licence and the one one we had was taken away by our personal son.”
Whereas urging Lokpobiri to associate with the state authorities to discover methods of attracting improvement to the state, Diri bemoaned the scenario the place the Nigeria Liquefied Pure Fuel Firm in Bonny, Rivers State, receives 60% of its fuel from Bayelsa however the firm pays tax to Rivers.
He famous that Bayelsa was disadvantaged of official revenue and taxes whereas being erroneously rated as financially bancrupt.
Diri restated his place that the true viability of states can solely be decided when the nation practises fiscal federalism and useful resource management.