The federal government has announced an investigation into some international oil companies (IOCs) following land-grabbing complaints from oil-producing communities in Bayelsa.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources identified the companies as the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
This probe comes in response to a petition filed by Agi Bestman, the coordinator of the Niger Delta MOU/Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), on behalf of the affected communities.
Kamoru Busari, the ministry’s director of the upstream department, is leading the investigative team, which includes representatives from the office of the surveyor-general of the federation, the Nigerian police, and the Bayelsa state government.
The team plans to conduct a fact-finding mission in the Biseni, Enebele, Ogbia, and Gbaran communities.
In their petition, the communities accused Agip and Shell of land-grabbing and failing to provide adequate compensation, particularly underpaying tenancy rent.
The investigation began with a meeting with senior Bayelsa state officials, followed by town hall meetings in Biseni Kingdom, Ogbia, Gbaran, and Enebele communities. During these sessions, traditional rulers and local landlords alleged that the oil companies seized their lands without proper compensation.
The team also inspected oil facilities in Biseni Kingdom, including Idu Well 1, 13 & 14, operated by Agip, and Adibawa Well 1 and Koroama Manifold, operated by SPDC.
While some families claimed they received inadequate payments, others reported receiving no compensation at all.
Agip has requested a meeting with the petitioner and the represented groups to address their grievances. Shell, meanwhile, assured the committee chairperson that it would request a rescheduled meeting due to the unavailability of key management officers, who were attending a Nigerian oil and gas conference in Abuja during the initial visit.
