Oil Facilities Shutdown: Tension in Delta, as 10 days ultimatum expires

By Ebi Perekeme

As the 10-day ultimatum issued by the Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta state to the Federal Government ends today, there seems to be visible tension, as residents were seen stocking their homes with food in fear of the outcome.

The kingdom had issued a 10-day ultimatum, which expired Thursday, to the Federal Government to meet certain demands.

The kingdom demands include stopping the ongoing bid for the 57 Marginal Fields, kick-starting the Deep Seaport, Gbaramatu, the Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP), Ogidigben, among other projects.

Marginal oil field is an oil field that has reserves and has remained productive for a period of over 10 years.

When GbaramatuVoice contacted the Spokesman of the kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama in Delta State, he stated that several individuals have tried to intervene in the matter and in a few days, the next action to be taken may be revealed.

However, he did not disclose whether the Federal Government has made efforts to reach the communities.

“The ultimatum has expired; it does not mean we have left off. We are going to follow through. People have been talking to us. In a day or two, we will come up with a programme,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Mr Auwalu Sarki, had disclosed that over 600 companies have applied to be prequalified for the ongoing bid rounds in Nigeria’s 57 Marginal Fields, the first in almost 20 years.

The Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Mr Auwalu Sarki, says over 600 companies have applied to be prequalified for the ongoing bid rounds in Nigeria’s 57 Marginal Fields, the first in almost 20 years.
Last month that over 300 companies applied to be prequalified for the Nigerian Marginal Field Bid Round.

However, the Director said Nigeria’s last bid round for the marginal fields was in 2003, and also revealed that the bidding exercise has gained lots of interest due to the transparent process set up by the DPR.

”First I will say that we have really witnessed an increase in bidders after the extension of the deadline to June 21. There has been almost 30 per cent increase in participation.

“If you are making a bid or auctioning any oil field, you need to get 10 people per field really going after the field. We have 57 fields and we have over 600 companies. So we can say that we are celebrating success so far.

“After the extension, we are moving according to schedule and now we are in the phase where we do pre-qualification for the bidders to apply. Everything is going perfectly.”