NIGERIA: Obi Says Anambra Owns Disputed Oil Field

The Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi on Thursday dismissed claims made by some groups and states over the ownership of the oil well discovered in the inland basin of Aguleri-Otu, Anambra East local government area.

Addressing the state in a special broadcast at the governor’s lodge, Awka, the governor said the financial commitments of the state in the oil project running in billions which other states and groups laying claims have not done.

Mr Obi said: “on August 30th 2012, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan – GCFR was in Anambra State on a one day working visit to commission the Orient Petroleum facilities among other projects.

“Since then some groups and states have been trying to lay claims to the ownership of the oil fields located in Anambra State.

“It is pertinent to recall that Orient Petroleum Resources Plc was formed during the government of Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju in 2001 and allocated oil fields domiciled in Anambra State.

“Though Dr Mbadinuju did not make any direct monetary contribution. Under Dr Chris Ngige, in 2002/2006, Anambra State government invested the sum of N100 million in the project. Under our government between 2006 and 2009, with the vision and the belief in the positive impact of the project on the economy of the state and the country, we invested directly and indirectly the sum of N4.4billion.

“This investment blustered the confidence of other investors to invest in the venture that made its commissioning a reality,” the governor said.

Mr Obi however, maintained that Anambra state will remain a good neighbour and will continue to pray for oil to be discovered in other states of the country in other that Nigeria will emerge an economic giant in the comity of nations in the world.

Moments after President Goodluck Jonathan opened the refinery built by Orient Petroleum and declared Anambra an oil producing state, the Kogi State, Idris Wada said “Kogi will be a major stake holder in the refinery, considering the fact the oil wells that will service the refinery are in Odeke Community in Ibaji Local Government Area of the state.”

Mr Wada made this claim a day after a community group issued a public notice saying that the oil deposits claimed by Anambra State are within the Odeke community of Kogi State.

The Kogi State governor said he “is doing everything humanly possible to resolve the issues surrounding the location of the oil wells with the contending states and that he is confident that “Kogi State will soon join the league of oil producing states in the country.”

......CHANNELS TV NEWS NIGERIA