Fear of N’Delta hostilities hanging planned licensing of marginal oil fields
Signals emerged Tuesday in Abuja that the planned oil blocs licensing rounds for marginal oil fields by the federal government may have been boxed to a tight corner due to fears of possible uprising from the Niger Delta should reasonable blocs fail to go to the way of their communities and big whips in the region.
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources through the Department of Petroleum Resources, (DPR) is in charge of the oil licensing rounds for marginal oil fields.
Youth organizations in the region had time without number made it clear that should the licensing go without their interest being well protected, it may result to resumption of hostilities in the region, and the government may not be happy if any further disruption is mated to oil production considering the contributions of the region to the economy after all.
It would be recalled that the licensing would have been done, but for the long stay of the president on medical vacation in London which lasted for more than three months.
Business Hilights had reported on President Buhari’s return that among critical hanging issues that will be handled on his return included the oil blocs licensing rounds.
However, details secured by our correspondent at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the matter showed that there are still grey areas that are receiving attention to avoid national disquiet on the announcement of the winners.
A usually dependable source at the four-towers said government is trying to limit chances of disquiet in the process considering the height of discordant voices that trailed recent managerial shakeup in the Corporation.
It would be recalled that some geo-political regions in the country had expressed anger over the way and manner general managers were appointed at NNPC without recourse to federal character.
First to fire the shot of anger and feeling of marginalization was the South East who argued that not having a slot out of 55 managerial appointment in a national institution goes further to depict official negligence of the region.
Other regions that managed to secure one or two including the South West also fumed within the period but no amendment was made till now in the process.
