A body of Niger Delta indigenes, has issued a seven-day notice to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to reverse the 2024 licensing and 2022/23 Mini Bid Round for oil blocs in the oil rich Niger Delta region on alleged discriminatory process.
The group in a letter addressed by its counsel, Blessing Agbomhere , to the Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, alleged that the process used for licensing of the oil blocks was unlawful and in clear violation of the Petroleum Industry Act, which is the Commission’s own operational guideline.
Agbomhere in the letter, notified the Commission of the intention of his clients to begin legal proceedings against it if at the end of the seven days notice, the commission fails to carry out a fresh bidding process for the Oil blocs in conformity with the fundamental principles of fairness, equity, and inclusivity.
The legal firm listed its clients to include: Undiandeye Akonfe, James Okeati, Chief Victor Akposeseye Okiri, Fortune Nakoro, Arc. Kenneth Anyanwu, Okwara Idika, Akpan Edem, Otetubi Tolulope and Olali Solomon who it said are Critical Stakeholders who believe in the peace and prosperity of the Niger Delta Region as patriotic indigenes of the Nigeria Delta.
The letter reads, “You will also recall that, Niger Delta stakeholders are key contributors to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and have been unjustly excluded from the licensing process despite their substantial investments, environmental sacrifices and statutory rights under the Petroleum Industry Act.
“Additionally, the two year delay in the licensing round has raised significant concerns about transparency, regulatory compliance, and the economic viability of the process.
“Excluding the Niger Delta Companies from benefiting from the resources in their region could lead to renewed agitation and conflict in the region.
“A licensing process that excludes critical stakeholders from resource governance undermines the peace building efforts achieved through years of negotiation with Host communities,” the letter read in parts”.
Agbomhere on behalf of the group in the letter, consequently , sought for declaration of the allocation of oil blocs to Companies whose majority shareholders are all from outside the Niger Delta region and whose head office are not located within the region as illegal being a violation of sections 15(1), 42(1), and 318(1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), the Petroleum Industry Act and the Nigerian Content Development Act.
He also demanded for an order of the Court directing the Minister of Petroleum Resources to withhold his consent to the allocation until another round of bidding is conducted.