Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has advised the management of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited which acquired the assets of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to operate differently from the former owners of the oil firm.
The governor also urged the company to incorporate the interests of host state governments in its operations to reduce conflicts in host communities.
Gov. Diri stated this on Wednesday when he received the management of Renaissance Africa Energy, including its chairman, Dr. Layi Fatona, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Tony Attah, and other officials at the Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor explained that before SPDC divested its assets, host communities were short-changed because the proceeds that accrued to them were grossly inadequate and resulted in agitations by state governments for a better deal.
“When we heard that SPDC had divested, we advised that the new company carry the host states along because part of the issues with the previous operator were that they were seen more like buccaneers.
“They were like people who came to the communities to collect and gave nothing back in return.
“Of course, the other party that also enjoys the oil arrangement is the federal government. Even out of protests and agitations, what the Niger Delta states get is a paltry 13 percent.
“There is nothing wrong if states are co-owners with you, even if it is a little percentage, and that is what l have been pushing for. l think it is not too late now that we have our people there.
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“If we are co-owners, there is even a tendency that we will protect it more, just as we are doing with the 13 percent. See what you can do to include the interest of Bayelsa State,” the governor said.
Gov. Diri, who expressed dissatisfaction with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), noted that under the act, the federal government and oil companies cut off the states and local governments and deal directly with the communities.
“Now, we receive a lot of protests from the communities. It is only when trouble comes that they remember that there is a state government and a local government.
“But you have now come in. So please, do not be the buccaneers that people used to know about SPDC, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, and all other oil companies that have operated on our land,” he appealed.
Gov. Diri assured of the state government’s commitment to partner with the company on energy security, adding that his administration is procuring a 60-megawatt gas turbine for independent power supply to the state.
Also, he appealed to the company to look into the issues of environmental pollution, stressing that, as it had acquired the assets of SPDC, it should equally acquire the liabilities.
Chairman of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Dr. Layi Fatona, said the delegation was in the state to introduce the company and its vision to the government, having acquired SPDC’s assets.
He sought the state government’s collaboration in the area of energy security.
