The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NNPC to suspend the planned auction of oil mining license 11, OML11.
The call followed Hon Victor Danzaria’s motion of urgent public significance during plenary in Abuja.
The House also mandated the Committee on Petroleum Upstream to investigate the planned auction among other matters and report back in four weeks.
“The House recalls that the oil fields under OML11 were previously controlled by the Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC joint venture, but have been inactive since Shell was pushed out of Ogoni Land in 1993. It also states that “by a Court of Appeal judgment dated 16 August 2021, the SPDC joint venture lost its right to renew its operational license,” according to the motion.
The House was concerned that unresolved issues between the government and the host communities of Ogoni in Rivers state were feeding the people’s existence and restlessness.
“It is particularly concerned about an alleged secret deal to auction off OML 11 assets to Sahara Energy Resource Limited for a pittance.
The lawmaker raised concerns on the need to urgently clarify and resolve issues associated with the planned auction among other matters.
