Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in a State broadcast on Monday, September 30, titled, ‘We will continue to advance the state’s interest, security and prosperity of all’, has revealed that his administration has resolved to acquire Shell Petroleum Development Company’s 45 per cent stake in Oil Mining Lease 11, in the best interest of her citizens.
Speaking at the Government House in Port Harcourt, he recalled that the decision to take over the operations of OML 11, will put an end to lingering crisis linked to its smooth operations between the host Ejama Ebubu community and the operators of OML 11.
He lamented the degradation of the environment, stressing that Rivers State had suffered the worst environmental degradation from oil-related operations, which had impeded development.
Wike recalled that a case concerning the control of the OML 11 began since 2001 and was disposed of about 10 years later, adding that the SPDC had appealed the outcome of the court rulings on the matter until it was finally dismissed in 2017
