Details have emerged how 22 offshore staff of Exxon Mobil were Thursday night arrested by Rivers State Government.

21 of the workers are members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, while the remaining staff is the company’s Chief Security Officer, CSO.

Vanguard gathered that the affected personnel “left Eket Mopol camp at about 2.45pm with full convoy of security escort for 14 days Quarantine at Intels Camp. Two buses, everybody inside maintaining social distances. On getting to Bori (Akwa Ibom/Rivers boundary), we were stopped by police blockade comprising Rivers State Police commissioner and a top army commander.

“Our security personnel started making calls to the Police commissioner, CP, who had left immediately with his convoy after stopping us. The Commissioner we were told asked us to come in on condition that we would be taken to Elekaya stadium at Port Harcourt, PH, for Coronavirus, COVID-19 test by National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

“The State’s Police vehicle led our convoy and arrived at Elekaya stadium at about 5pm. At the stadium, where an Isolation Center is being constructed by the state Government , there was no NCDC official or anybody to conduct any test on us, and we were left hanging.

“The Mobil Chief Security Officer, CSO, kept talking to the Government officials including the CP, Attorney General and the Commissioner for Health who came to the stadium in person, but no directive for us to be released. Police troops then started arriving the stadium, and their leader came and questioned us on what brought us to Rivers State. Our CSO explained everything on our behalf, stating that we are on essential business and that we had permission to move. The police left us after his valid explanation.

“The police later returned with printed forms for each of us to write statement (as if we are under arrest). We refused to oblige on individual basis, and our CSO also refused to write. At that point they resorted to harassment, asking us to enter the vehicles and seized the CSO phone. But our CSO kept explaining and talking to their leaders, and after sometimes his phone was returned to him. They later left but went to write statement on a form for the CSO to sign which he equally refused.”

Vanguard gathered that at the time of this report, the workers are still at Elekaya Stadium, Port Harcourt, where they have been detained without food or water.

Meanwhile, PENGASSAN in a statement by its Exxon Mobil branch, has called on all stakeholders to prevail on the Rivers State Government to immediately release the detained workers and end the unpleasant drama.

The statement by its Chairman and Secretary, Razaq Obe, and Kingsley Udoidua, respectively, reads in part, “ExxonMobil Nigeria, like other responsible organizations, has adopted 14 days isolation of all personnel as a prerequisite for offshore travels in order to mitigate COVID-19 risk. It has facilities in Akwa Ibom State and one in Port Harcourt (Intels) to achieve (1) above.

“Recall the federal government of Nigeria exempted oil and gas workers on essential service from COVID-19 restrictions in Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Lagos State and Ogun State. The same was mirrored in various communications from Rivers State government which have permitted unfettered movements of other IOCs’ essential service personnel and critical materials.

“At about 3:30pm on Thursday April 16, 2020, Rivers State commissioner of police with his team and a top Army commander intercepted the convoy (protected by the police) conveying 21 ExxonMobil personnel who are PENGASSAN members on their way to Intels, Port Harcourt, at Bori (Akwa Ibom/Rivers boundary).

“The commissioner rebuffed all explanations and forced them to move to Elekaya Stadium, Port Harcourt, where they have been detained, verbally assaulted and starved. The original pretext for sending them to the stadium was to test for COVID-19 but there was no such possibility at the location; it is a construction site. They rather served them papers to write statements. It is appalling that Rivers State authorities have turned the global effort to tame COVID-19 to a tool of muscle-flexing and petty oppression of oilfield workers.

“We condemn the continued detention of the 21 members of our Union who stake everything to produce the oil the country depends on for survival. We call on all stakeholders to prevail on the government of Rivers State to end this most unpleasant drama. Our members have broken no law.”
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/04/updated-how-22-exxon-mobil-offshore-staff-were-arrested-by-rivers-govt/

Oga Wike, easy ooh. Remember your state is one of the beneficiaries of the oil proceeds. Do not do to the APC-led administration the way they did to your state . It's about Nigeria and not a party at this point. Forgive them abeg. We know they have failed Nigerians but don't take it personal. We are not oblivious of their open lies. Nigeria first before party affiliation

I thought people working in the oil and gas sector are exempted? RVSG should release a statement to clear the air.

What is wrong with Governor Wike, the Presidential directive exempt oil workers abi does he not know the oil price is down,where would allocation come from when you stop ships from lifting oil and oil worker from production. Just give them facemasks and hand gloves.Infact i think F.G should start engaging Governor Ayade and his counterpart in Abia on the massive production of facemask and hand gloves, because we need to have plan B if we can't fight the virus let us adapt to it.Shikena

The one wey dey pain me pass..dem sey dem be "essential workers".while,the real essential workers (market men and women) dey haus with hunger playing 5 aside inside dia belle.

No comment yet

Newphil:
I thought people working in the oil and gas sector are exempted? RVSG should release a statement to clear the air.

Exempted from.....?
Why move in a group of 21
When they finish work don't they go home to family?

okay oo

Yes, Wike, though you're the governor and the state Chief security officer but remember the F.G doesn't obey the rule of law,if the F.G treat your case.....

uruba23:
What is wrong with Governor Wike, the Presidential directive exempt oil workers abi does he not know the oil price is down,where would allocation come from when you stop ships from lifting oil and oil worker from production. Just give them facemasks and hand gloves.Infact i think F.G should start engaging Governor Ayade and his counterpart in Abia on the massive production of facemask and hand gloves, because we need to have plan B if we can't fight the virus let us adapt to it.

Presidential directive does NOT apply in Rivers State
That is the law.
The Presidential directive can only apply to to areas where the governor has NOT ALREADY issued a directive

omonnakoda:

Presidential directive does NOT apply in Rivers State
That is the law.
The Presidential directive can only apply to to areas where the governor has NOT ALREADY issued a directive

Hmmm like your angle would do some research and reply you properly.Well the oil and gas sector is on the exclusive list so the governor does not have any right to make pronouncements overriding the Presidential directive, as it is not on the concurrent list.

The Governor of Lagos state gave an order already before the president locked down Lagos state and over ruled his order.

omonnakoda:

Presidential directive does NOT apply in Rivers State
That is the law.
The Presidential directive can only apply to to areas where the governor has NOT ALREADY issued a directive

Flexing muscles with the FG and ruling party for that matter,he may end up like fayose,saraki and the likes

Wike
Wen they carry their investments to somewhere else u guys will now start shouting our oil money
If oil production stops due to this lockdown, how will d country survive it? Senseless people

Rivers state is not even on a lockdown so people go to work daily, and what the state government declared is a restrictions of movement across the state boundary

So why were they arrested?

Did they cross the border from a neighbouring state into Rivers state?

uruba23:
What is wrong with Governor Wike, the Presidential directive exempt oil workers abi does he not know the oil price is down,where would allocation come from when you stop ships from lifting oil and oil worker from production. Just give them facemasks and hand gloves.Infact i think F.G should start engaging Governor Ayade and his counterpart in Abia on the massive production of facemask and hand gloves, because we need to have plan B if we can't fight the virus let us adapt to it.Shikena

Rivers State is not even on any Federal government mandated lockdown, and what the state government has declared is a state border lockdown.

People are moving freely within the state, only slum markets and some type of public places (schools, cinemas, amusement parks, public swimming pools) have been closed. While most companies have had staff who can work from home stay back, those who must work within the office have continued to go to work.

All supermarkets and shops are still open all the time, and all artisans are still busy doing their daily jobs. All commercial transportation are still very active.

People are still going to work in Rivers state regardless of what sector their service is rendered. So it even has nothing to do with Oil and Gas exemption.

I just think all of this is happening because some people either do not understand what directive they have received, or someone in the state government is power drunk.

Throwback:
Rivers state is not even on a lockdown so people go to work daily, and what the state government declared is a restrictions of movement across the state boundary

So why were they arrested?

Did they cross the border from a neighbouring state into Rivers state?

From the news you would have seen that they were coming from Akwaibom state to Rivers and were arrested when they have crossed the boundary from Akwa Ibom to River State. They were going to Intels Camp in Rivers state.

This cultist have once again proven why State governors cannot pretend they don't have any power to improve the lives of their citizens.

Throwback:


Rivers State is not even on any Federal government mandated lockdown, and what the state government has declared is a state border lockdown.

People are moving freely within the state, only slum markets and some type of public places (schools, cinemas, amusement parks, public swimming pools) have been closed. While most companies have had staff who can work from home stay back, those who must work within the office have continued to go to work.

All supermarkets and shops are still open all the time, and all artisans are still busy doing their daily jobs. All commercial transportation are still very active.

People are still going to work in Rivers state regardless of what sector their service is rendered. So it even has nothing to do with Oil and Gas exemption.

I just think all of this is happening because some people either do not understand what directive they have received, or someone in the state government is power drunk.

He just like shaking the table, i am sure he just want President Buhari's attention...Although he might be right to stop and test them if it is interstate for proper contact tracing, what he should have done was collect their database,get a timeline of their work schedule and ensure the oil company sign an undertaking to be held responsible in case of any Convid case arising from the team irrespective of whether they contact it from within or brought it from outside.

jodeci:


From the news you would have seen that they were coming from Akwaibom state to Rivers and were arrested when they have crossed the boundary from Akwa Ibom to River State. They were going to Intels Camp in Rivers state.

Actually, the news report wasn't that specific.

In fact, the report kind of suggested they were head to a place that was close to the border with Akwa-Ibom, not that they were coming from the border.

If indeed they travelled across the border that is heavily fortified by police, why were they allowed to come into the state without any waiver previously granted by the state government that put the police there?

Or did they come in through the bush like smugglers?

Throwback:


Actually, the news report wasn't that specific.

In fact, the report kind of suggested they were head to a place that was close to the border with Akwa-Ibom, not that they were coming from the border.

If indeed they travelled across the border that is heavily fortified by police, why were they allowed to come into the state without any waiver previously granted by the state government that put the police there?

Or did they come in through the bush like smugglers?

According to PENGASSAN Exxon Mobile Branch Secretary, Kingsley Udoidua, “At about 3:30pm on Thursday April 16, 2020, Rivers State commissioner of police with his team and a top A[b]rmy commander intercepted the convoy (protected by the police) conveying 21 ExxonMobil personnel who are PENGASSAN members on their way to Intels, Port Harcourt, at Bori (Akwa Ibom/Rivers boundary).
[/b]
They were escorted across heading to intels in PH from akwaibom state. Exxon mobil operates in akwaibom but has base in intels in ph for certain level of staff members.

Lanretoye:
The Governor of Lagos state gave an order already before the president locked down Lagos state and over ruled his order.
Flexing muscles with the FG and ruling party for that matter,he may end up like fayose,saraki and the likes

Well I want to look at the matter from a theoretical legal perspective.
Not the "flexing" perspective
The President has the power to declare a place an INFECTED LOCAL AREA.
That is not in dispute. Having made such a declaration he can make exemptions

The point is he did NOT declare Rivers state to be an INFECTED LOCAL AREA.

Therefore he cannot make exemptions to a declaration that does not exist.

He cannot make exemptions to a declaration that HE DID NOT MAKE.

zionmde:
Wike
Wen they carry their investments to somewhere else u guys will now start shouting our oil money
If oil production stops due to this lockdown, how will d country survive it? Senseless people

Thought u said oil contribute nothing to our economy

mrvitalis:
Thought u said oil contribute nothing to our economy

prove where I said it

uruba23:

Hmmm like your angle would do some research and reply you properly.Well the oil and gas sector is on the exclusive list so the governor does not have any right to make pronouncements overriding the Presidential directive, as it is not on the concurrent list.

I think you need to understand what "Exclusive list " means when doing your research
It is Exclusive Legislative List
The president has NO POWER in the exclusive list.

The exclusive list is a list of things that the National Assembly has power to make laws on which the State Houses of Assembly cannot.

Exclusive list is a legislative matter.

Next quarantine is on the exclusive list.

The quarantine law we have is a Federal legislation

The National Assembly may make laws regarding items on the exclusive list delegating powers to the State government or governors.

So the issue is not about exclusive list but what powers the governors have under the Quarantine Act.

There is nothing stopping the National Assembly changing the current quarantine Act and removing all the powers it has vested in the governors. Until that happens both the governors and the President are bound by the provision of the Quarantine act.

It really irks me when people say exclusive list upandan without understanding what that means

The president has ZERO power from the exclusive list directly. That power comes from the National Assembly

This is just unfair to people trying to sustain the econmony of the state and the nation.

omonnakoda:


I think you need to understand what "Exclusive list " means when doing your research

The president has NO POWER in the exclusive list.

The exclusive list is a list of things that the National Assembly has power to make laws on which the State Houses of Assembly cannot.

Exclusive list is a legislative matter.

Next quarantine is on the exclusive list.

The quarantine law we have is a Federal legislation

The National Assembly may make laws regarding items on the exclusive list delegating powers to the State government or governors.

So the issue is not about exclusive list but what powers the governors have under the Quarantine Act.

There is nothing stopping the National Assembly changing the current quarantine Act and removing all the powers it has vested in the governors. Until that happens both the governors and the President are bound by the provision of the Quarantine act.

It really irks me when people say exclusive list upandan without understanding what that means

The president has ZERO power from the exclusive list directly. That power comes from the National Assembly

I do definitely know what i am saying,the President and Governors derives their power from the people but are govern by the laws.

jodeci:


According to PENGASSAN Exxon Mobile Branch Secretary, Kingsley Udoidua, “At about 3:30pm on Thursday April 16, 2020, Rivers State commissioner of police with his team and a top A[b]rmy commander intercepted the convoy (protected by the police) conveying 21 ExxonMobil personnel who are PENGASSAN members on their way to Intels, Port Harcourt, at Bori (Akwa Ibom/Rivers boundary).
[/b]
They were escorted across heading to intels in PH from akwaibom state. Exxon mobil operates in akwaibom but has base in intels in ph for certain level of staff members.

I get you perfectly now, the confusion is from the way the statement was poorly structured, such that it lost meaning.

The "at Bori (Akwa Ibom/Rivers boundary)" shouldn't have been placed too far away from "intercepted the convoy".

However, I insist that even with police convoy, there should have been waiver known to all parties, including the police at the border and the state government officials including the security that made the arrest.

So how did they make it past the border without such waiver?

uruba23:

I do definitely know what i am saying,the President and Governors derives their power from the people but are govern by the laws.

Did the president make any declaration about Rivers state regarding quarantine or coronavirus?

Oga wike needs 10 Billion palliative

It is not possible to divorce a woman you did not marry.

The President can only make exemptions after making an order.
The order he signed is very clear, it applies to Lagos, Ogun and the FCT

At no point did he make a declaration covering the WHOLE country.

SarkinYarki:
Oga wike needs 10 Billion palliative

Besides that the FG needs to communicate better ,this is not a military government.

Throwback:


I get you perfectly now, the confusion is from the way the statement was poorly structured, such that it lost meaning.

The "at Bori (Akwa Ibom/Rivers boundary)" shouldn't have been placed too far away from "intercepted the convoy".

However, I insist that even with police convoy, there should have been waiver known to all parties, including the police at the border and the state government officials including the security that made the arrest.

So how did they make it past the border without such waiver?

Lack of effective communication from federal,state and even LGAs.No synergy.