(Ecofin Agency) - The Commissioner for Oil and Gas in Delta State, Mofe Pirah, has announced that Heritage Oil Limited and some other oil companies have showed interest in relocating their headquarters to the State. Heritage Oil is the new operator of OML 30.

According to Pirah, the move was a new development bearing in mind the fact that militant groups like the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) have continually destroyed oil pipelines while the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) had repeatedly threatened oil companies to depart from the region.

“This is a major achievement considering the fact that proceeds from the acreage, which traverses 111 communities across 10 LGAs, had always gone to Edo State where NPDC have their headquarters. We also have understanding with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), to site an industrial cluster within Koko, the headquarter of Warri North Local Government Area,” Pirah told the Guardian.

The Commissioner stated that more than 80% of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region happened in Delta State. He added that the relocation of oil companies has also considerably affected the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

“Investors are moving out of the state in droves as a result of youths’ restiveness and their absence, coupled with a lack of job opportunities for the youths have further compounded security issues within our communities,” he added.

Anita Fatunji