AMID a raging debate on the Petroleum Industry
Bill, Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Business and Rules, Senator Ita Enang, on
Wednesday, said that 83 per cent of oil blocks in
the country are owned by Northerners.

“There should be equity and federal character in
the allocation of oil blocks in this country.
Eighty-three per cent of all present oil blocks are
held by northerners,” Enang said on the floor of
the Senate, without any of the senior lawmakers
contradicting him.

Enang, representing Akwa Ibom North-East
(Uyo) Senatorial District, therefore demanded a
review of oil block licences in the country even
as other senators from the South urged him on.
Enang’s disclosures came a day after the debate
on the Petroleum Industry Bill had split the
senators along North-South lines. The senators
held a rowdy session as those from the north
stoutly opposed the provision of 10 per cent
Host Community Fund in the bill.

The provision requires operating companies in
the Niger Delta, home to Nigeria’s vast oil
resource, to pay 10 per cent of their net profits
to the fund for the development of the
communities.
Strengthening his submission, Senator Enang
gave a summary of major oil blocks vis-a-vis
their ownership.

Enang said Cavendish Petroleum, the operators
of OML 110, awarded to Alhaji Mai Deribe of
Borno State (North East), makes an average of
about N4bn monthly.
He said, “Seplat/Platform Petroleum, operators of
the ASUOKPU/UMUTU marginal field has Prince
Sanusi Lamido (not CBN Governor) as a major
shareholder and Director.
“South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO),
was established by Gen. Theophilus Yakubu
Danjuma, who is also the Chairman of ENI
Nigeria Limited. SAPETRO partnered with Total
Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) and Brasoil
Oil Services Company Nigeria Lomited to become
operators of the OPL 246.
“AMNI International Petroleum and Development
Company is owned by Alhaji (Colonel) Sani Bello
of Kotangora, Niger State. They are operators of
OML 112 and OML 117.

“A former Petroleum minister and former OPEC
chairman, Rilwanu Lukman, another northerner,
manages AMNI oil blocks and with very key
interests in the NNPC/Vitol trading deal.
“Oriental Energy Resources Limited, a company
owned by Alhaji Indimi, runs three oil blocks:
OML 15, the Okwok field and the Ebok field.
“Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s Express Petroleum and
Gas Limited operates OML 108.

“OML 113 allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum
Limited is owned by Alhaji. W.I. Folawiyo.
“OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy
Nigeria Limited, owned by Emeka Offor, which
was sold by Starcrest to Addax Petroleum.
Emeka Offor still has a stake in Addax operations
in Nigeria.

“Mike Adenuga’s Conoil is the oldest indigenous
oil exploration industry in Nigeria with six oil
blocks;
“Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo’s North East
Petroleum Limited is the holder of the OPL 215
licence. NOREASTER Petroleum was awarded
blocks OPL 276 and OPL 283 and closing
thereupon a Joint Venture Agreement with
Centrica Resources Nigeria Limited and CCC Oil
and Gas.

“INTEL is owned by (Abubakar) Atiku, Yar’Adua
and Ado Bayero and has substantial stakes in
Nigeria’s oil exploration industry, both in Nigeria
and Sao Tome and Principe.
“These need to be looked into, revoked and re-
awarded. The Federal Character which is a
principle applicable in every aspect of our
national existence should also be brought to
bear in the application of our oil blocks, marginal
fields and prospecting licences.”
Enang’s disclosures came amid a consensus
among the lawmakers on the need to let the bill
sail through second reading, while further
legislative work would take care of the
contentious issues.

Enang, who spoke in support of the PIB, also
argued for the retention of the 10 per cent host
community fund, adding that it did not amount
to an additional derivation.

Speaking also in favour of the bill, Senator Chris
Anyanwu (Imo East) said the bill would address
the issue of criminality in the sector.

She said, “The element I like most in the bill is
the host community fund because it removes the
motive for crime. It gives them a sense of
belonging and ownership. Until the PIB is ready
and people know that their investment is safe,
they will not come to Nigeria.”

Senator Ayogu Eze from Enugu North also urged
his colleagues to support the bill so as allow for
the fine-tuning of other controversial areas.
Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South) argued
that Section 191 of the bill gave too much
powers to the President, which must be
curtailed.

Norther senators whose earlier position was
outright rejection of the bill have moved to give
the bill a chance.
Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) captured
the new mood when he said, “I was one of the
people completely opposed to the bill but from
the trend of the debate it looked like the Senate
is ready to do a thorough job without fear or
favour. For this reason, I will join others in
asking that this bill be considered while the
contentious positions are addressed.

“It is necessary that the powers of the minister
be reduced so that whosoever is the minister is
not a super minister.”
In spite of this, Deputy Leader, Abdul Ningi
(Bauchi Central); Senators Abdullahi Adamu
(Nasarawa West); Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna
North); and Nurudeen Abatemi (Kogi Central)
raised concerns on the provisions for host
communities’ fund.

They also expressed hope that the issue would
be properly thrashed at the critical stages of the
bill.
The debate on the general principles of the bill
would be concluded on Thursday (today).

source: Punch newspaper

Does Bello still have involvement in Amni? His name is absent from their site and he handed the chairman role to Tunde Afolabi some time ago?

is that so? tell me something.

@ OP, whose fault?

Buhari is coming to take the oil licenses away from everyone them. Let it be Southerner or Northerner, they won't be having any of their licenses renewed. The oil field belongs to every Nigerian.

sincerenigerian:
Buhari is coming to take the oil licenses away from everyone them. Let it be Southerner or Northerner, they won't be having any of their licenses renewed. The oil field belongs to every Nigerian.

Pls tell this to Atiku and co.

So I guess he will redistribute the licenses to 'average' Nigerians or exploit the oil by himself?
What then happens to the investments of the current owners of these licenses? Will they give up their 'hard-earned' money without a fight?

Ordinary PIB has not passed Senate reading for how long, but Buhari will revoke/take away licenses IF he gets into govt (like say na military regime we dey).

Tell me another story.

OboloMAN:
AMID a raging debate on the Petroleum Industry
Bill, Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Business and Rules, Senator Ita Enang, on
Wednesday, said that 83 per cent of oil blocks in
the country are owned by Northerners.

“There should be equity and federal character in
the allocation of oil blocks in this country.
Eighty-three per cent of all present oil blocks are
held by northerners,” Enang said on the floor of
the Senate, without any of the senior lawmakers
contradicting him.

Enang, representing Akwa Ibom North-East
(Uyo) Senatorial District, therefore demanded a
review of oil block licences in the country even
as other senators from the South urged him on.
Enang’s disclosures came a day after the debate
on the Petroleum Industry Bill had split the
senators along North-South lines. The senators
held a rowdy session as those from the north
stoutly opposed the provision of 10 per cent
Host Community Fund in the bill.

The provision requires operating companies in
the Niger Delta, home to Nigeria’s vast oil
resource, to pay 10 per cent of their net profits
to the fund for the development of the
communities.
Strengthening his submission, Senator Enang
gave a summary of major oil blocks vis-a-vis
their ownership.

Enang said Cavendish Petroleum, the operators
of OML 110, awarded to Alhaji Mai Deribe of
Borno State (North East), makes an average of
about N4bn monthly.
He said, “Seplat/Platform Petroleum, operators of
the ASUOKPU/UMUTU marginal field has Prince
Sanusi Lamido (not CBN Governor) as a major
shareholder and Director.
“South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO),
was established by Gen. Theophilus Yakubu
Danjuma, who is also the Chairman of ENI
Nigeria Limited. SAPETRO partnered with Total
Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) and Brasoil
Oil Services Company Nigeria Lomited to become
operators of the OPL 246.
“AMNI International Petroleum and Development
Company is owned by Alhaji (Colonel) Sani Bello
of Kotangora, Niger State. They are operators of
OML 112 and OML 117.

“A former Petroleum minister and former OPEC
chairman, Rilwanu Lukman, another northerner,
manages AMNI oil blocks and with very key
interests in the NNPC/Vitol trading deal.
“Oriental Energy Resources Limited, a company
owned by Alhaji Indimi, runs three oil blocks:
OML 15, the Okwok field and the Ebok field.
“Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s Express Petroleum and
Gas Limited operates OML 108.

“OML 113 allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum
Limited is owned by Alhaji. W.I. Folawiyo.
“OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy
Nigeria Limited, owned by Emeka Offor, which
was sold by Starcrest to Addax Petroleum.
Emeka Offor still has a stake in Addax operations
in Nigeria.

“Mike Adenuga’s Conoil is the oldest indigenous
oil exploration industry in Nigeria with six oil
blocks;
“Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo’s North East
Petroleum Limited is the holder of the OPL 215
licence. NOREASTER Petroleum was awarded
blocks OPL 276 and OPL 283 and closing
thereupon a Joint Venture Agreement with
Centrica Resources Nigeria Limited and CCC Oil
and Gas.

“INTEL is owned by (Abubakar) Atiku, Yar’Adua
and Ado Bayero and has substantial stakes in
Nigeria’s oil exploration industry, both in Nigeria
and Sao Tome and Principe.
“These need to be looked into, revoked and re-
awarded. The Federal Character which is a
principle applicable in every aspect of our
national existence should also be brought to
bear in the application of our oil blocks, marginal
fields and prospecting licences.”
Enang’s disclosures came amid a consensus
among the lawmakers on the need to let the bill
sail through second reading, while further
legislative work would take care of the
contentious issues.

Enang, who spoke in support of the PIB, also
argued for the retention of the 10 per cent host
community fund, adding that it did not amount
to an additional derivation.

Speaking also in favour of the bill, Senator Chris
Anyanwu (Imo East) said the bill would address
the issue of criminality in the sector.

She said, “The element I like most in the bill is
the host community fund because it removes the
motive for crime. It gives them a sense of
belonging and ownership. Until the PIB is ready
and people know that their investment is safe,
they will not come to Nigeria.”

Senator Ayogu Eze from Enugu North also urged
his colleagues to support the bill so as allow for
the fine-tuning of other controversial areas.
Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South) argued
that Section 191 of the bill gave too much
powers to the President, which must be
curtailed.

Norther senators whose earlier position was
outright rejection of the bill have moved to give
the bill a chance.
Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) captured
the new mood when he said, “I was one of the
people completely opposed to the bill but from
the trend of the debate it looked like the Senate
is ready to do a thorough job without fear or
favour. For this reason, I will join others in
asking that this bill be considered while the
contentious positions are addressed.

“It is necessary that the powers of the minister
be reduced so that whosoever is the minister is
not a super minister.”
In spite of this, Deputy Leader, Abdul Ningi
(Bauchi Central); Senators Abdullahi Adamu
(Nasarawa West); Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna
North); and Nurudeen Abatemi (Kogi Central)
raised concerns on the provisions for host
communities’ fund.

They also expressed hope that the issue would
be properly thrashed at the critical stages of the
bill.
The debate on the general principles of the bill
would be concluded on Thursday (today).

source: Punch newspaper

What does an oil block mean and what areas of the entire Niger Delta are shared as oil blocks ? What is the politics of oil blocks ??