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BNC, EDSOPADEC Trade Words Over Ceded Oil Wells - - 7 May 2008
THE Benin National Congress (BNC), a socio-cultural organisation in Edo State and the Edo State Oil and Gas Development Commission (EDSOPADEC), yesterday traded words over the difficulties in returning oil wells that were ceded to the neighbouring Ondo and Delta states back to the state.
While the BNC accused the EDSOPADEC and the state Ministry of Lands and Survey of deliberate ploy to frustrate its efforts in redressing the alleged injustice done to the state by ceding its oil wells to the neighbouring states, the Oil Commission described the accusation as far from the truth as it was doing all it could to get the oil wells back in order to improve the funds accrued to the Commission.
The two bodies traded blames when they paid a courtesy visit to Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor at Government House, Benin City.
While addressing the Governor, the President of the BNC, Mr Aiyemenkhue Edokpolo, recalled that the Congress had earlier petitioned the National Assembly through its representative in the House of Representatives, Mr Patrick Obahiagbon, over the issue but that it was being frustrated by the non release of the geological data by the Oil Commission.
"We are not happy that we are being short changed because it is affecting us as a people. We are worried by the lean resources accruing to the state because of the appropriation of our oil wells to Ondo and Delta in connivance with the National Boundary Commission and the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission. But it is unfortunate that the Lands and Survey Ministry as well as the Oil and Gas Commission, have failed to complement our efforts," he stated.
Defending the Commission, the Chairman of EDSOPADEC, Mr Lawrence Ogieva noted that the Commission had not impacted much on the lives of the people of the oil producing communities because of paucity of fund.
"And that is why we have been running around in Abuja to ensure that our oil wells are returned to us. It has been very difficult battling this course. How can we be frustrating the efforts in recovering our lost oil wells when we know that it is the only way our funds can increase for the good of our people?
That is why we are also appealing to your Excellency, to help sustain the tempo of activities already commenced by stakeholders to ensure that oil wells ceded to other states are returned to us because such will boost revenue accruing to the Commission for further developmental projects," he stated.
Responding, Governor Osunbor hinted that the state Government was already talking to the relevant authorities on the matter, expressing optimism that the state would get all its lost oil wells back before the end of the year.
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