Okesola Ajibola, some northern elite members and ex-military rulers took control of the Nigerian oil industry. The scheme was achieved through the allocation of oil wells to themselves, family friends, in-laws and other northern aristocrats and business men, making these individuals to rake in huge incomes from oil money, an online chat portal, NigerianWorldForum, disclosed. According to the information, Cavendish Petroleum which operates OML110 was awarded to the late Borno patriarch, Alhaji Mai Deribe by General Sani Abacha on July 8, 1996. The oil well is said to have a proven oil reserve in excess of 500 million barrels, which is more than the entire 300 million barrels reserve of Sudan. It also has the capacity to produce about 120,000 barrels of crude oil daily from its OBE 4 and OBE 5 wells. Calculation at current production levels indicates that the Mai Deribes net about N4billion monthly in crude oil sales at oil price estimates of $100 per barrel (p/b). Another prominent northerner enjoying the wealth from the oil industry is Prince Nasiru Ado Bayero, who is the cousin of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The Fulani prince is a key shareholder and director in Seplat/Platform Petroleum, operators of the Asuokpu/ Umutu Marginal Field with a capacity of 300,000 barrels monthly and A 30 mmfcsd gas plant capable of feeding 100MT of LPG. Also, former Defence Minister, General T.Y Danjuma, has been linked with South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO). SAPETRO is a Nigerian Oil Exploration and Production Company that was created in 1995 by the retired army General who is also the chairman of ENI Nigeria. General Abacha allegedly awarded the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 246 to SAPETRO in February 1998. The block covers a total area of 2,590km2 (1,000 sq. miles). SAPETRO partnered with Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd (TUPNI) and Brasoil Oil Services Company Nigeria Ltd (Petrobras) to start prospecting on OPL 246. Akpo, a condensate field was discovered in April 2000 with the drilling of the first exploration well (Akpo 1) on the block. Other discoveries made on OPL 246 include the Egina Main, Egina South, Preowei and Kuro (Kuro was suspended as a dry gas/ minor oil discovery). In June 2006, General T.Y Danjuma was said to have divested part of his rights and obligations to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) for $1 billion (N160bn). Akpo exports about 230,000 barrels of condensate daily. Condensate export is not regulated by OPEC, so SAPETRO/ TOTAL exports as much as possible each day. Egina exports about 75,000 barrels of oil daily. Therefore, Akpo and Egina’s fields export just over 300,000 barrels of oil/ condensate daily said to be three times what Ghana exports. The General gets 25 percent of what accrues. According to the information, the gas component is about 2.5 trillion cubic feet. The money SAPETRO nets each month is allegedly more than the monthly statutory allocation to any Nigerian state and also more than the oil revenue of Ghana according to information. Oil fields OML 112 and 117 were awarded to Amni International Petroleum Development Company by General Abdulsalami Abubakar in the twilight of his administration in 1999. In the productionsharing contract, AMNI gets 60 percent for owning the oil block and Total gets 40 percent for providing technical advice. OML 112 was awarded in February 12, 1998 while OML 117 was awarded on August 4, 1999. Operations started on both blocks in February 26, 2006, according to Nigerian- WorldForum. The licenses are due to expire on February 11, 2018 and August 5, 2019 respectively. The information portal believes that this is one of the reasons why some northern leaders want the presidency back in the north by 2015. The oil fields have about 50 million barrels in reserve and currently produce/ exports just a little below 20,000 barrels per day. The chairman of AMNI International Petroleum and Development Company is Colonel Sani Bello from Kontagora, Niger State whose son, Abu, is believed to have married General Abdusalami Abubakar’s eldest daughter. The retired army colonel was a former governor of Kano State and Nigeria High Commissioner to Zimbabwe. Former Petroleum Minister, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, has also been linked with Afren Energy. The company operates the Okoro and Setu fields in OML112. Apart from operating Amni oil blocks, Afren, also has key interest in the NNPC/Vitol trading deal, Vitol is a London based oil trading company. Vitol lifts 350,000 barrels of crude oil daily from Nigeria. Former head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida’s in law, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi has been linked with Oriental Energy Resources Limited. The company runs three oil blocks OML 115, the Okwok field and the Ebok field. OML 115 and Okwo are OML PSC, while Ebok is an OML JV. General Babangida’s son, Mohammed is married to Alhaji Mohammed Indimi’s daughter, Rahama Indimi-Babangida, who also serves as a director in the company. Other directors include Amina Indimi- Fodio, Jibrila Indimi, Ibrahim Indimi, Ahmed Indimi and Mustafa Indimi. The chairman and patriarch, Alhaji Indimi hails from Niger State. OML 115 is 228 sq Km. On OML 115, Oriental Energy Resources Limited has 60 per cent while Equity Energy Resources AS, which has allegedly been linked to Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s oil and gas investment vehicle, has 40 per cent. On Okwok, Addax has 40 percent equity while on the Ebok field; Oriental Energy Resources has 100 percent. AMNI produces twice as much as Cavendish Petroleum. Another northern aristocrat, Alhaji Aminu Dantata was awarded oil field OML 108 by General Abacha in November 1995 through his Express Petroleum and Gas Limited. CAMAC Houston, a company owned by KaseLawal bought 2.5 percent equity of Express Petroleum’s 60 percent holdings. The other 40 percent on OML 108 is owned by Sheba E&P Limited, also linked with General Babangida. SEPCOL operates the Ukpokiti offshore field in Shallow water Nigeria, which was acquired from ConocoPhillips in May 2004. Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Jambo is another prominent northerner thriving in the oil industry. He owns NorEast (North East) Petroleum Nigeria limited. The company is the holder of OPL215 license, covering an area 0f 2,564 square kilometres in water depths between 200 to 1600 metres. NorEast is the parent company of Rayflosh Petroleum which was awarded blocks OPLs 276 and 283 leading to a Joint Venture Agreement with Centrica Resources Nigeria Limited and CCC Oil and Gas. The license was awarded to Alhaji Jambo by General Babangida in 1991 and then renewed in 2004. So far $50Million has allegedly been spent on the very promising Okpoi-1 and Egere -1 exploratory wells. Former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the Yar’Adua family and the Ado Bayeros have also been linked with INTELS , the Oil and Gas Free Zone and Oil Services Centres, as well as Support Bases, are operated from governmentowned facilities, leased to INTELS under long-term agreements. INTELS runs a ‘private port’, with the attendant effect on the Calabar, Warri and Port Harcourt ports. There are over one hundred major companies operating at the INTEL facility in Port Harcourt. Pls what else did they want from these ijaw man? I am ones anty jonathan but I later realised that Northern elites are the Nigeria problem. Pls let be reason with all these. Am not here to campaign for Jonathan but weve stop all these do or die politics.
Posted on: Mon, 19 May 2014 05:56:09 +0000