Niger Delta Avengers: Militants set to display currency, flag and passport; ...ask UN to free Niger Delta people

Niger Delta Avengers, yesterday, listed some oil blocs which it claimed are owned by some prominent Nigerians, among whom are former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (retd), late ex-Minister of Petroleum, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, a two-week ultimatum to shut down their operations and evacuate their workers from the locations or have them blown up.

The militant group, pressing for a sovereign state of the Niger Delta, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, warned: “If at the end of the ultimatum you are still operating, we will blow up all the locations. It will be bloody. So, just shut down your operations and leave.”

The oil blocs listed are: “Apo Well awarded to Sapetro Oil. Apo field is capable of producing 300,000 barrels per day and crude reserve of 500 million barrels

* OML 110 Obe oil field owned by Alhaji Mai Daribe, Cavendish Petroleum, with an estimated 500 million barrels of crude oil worth $50 billion after tax.

*Akpo condensate field awarded to Sapetro Oil. This field is worth $100 billion.

*OML 112 and OML 117 awarded to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company. It is worth $150bn after tax.

*OML 115 also known as Oldwok field and Ebok field and both are worth $200 billion.

*OML 215 awarded to and operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited. The field is worth $100 billion after tax.

*OML 108 awarded to Express Petroleum Company . This field is worth $128 billion.

*OML 113 is $150 billion.

*OML 112 and OML 117.

*OML 67 is worth $180 billion.

*OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas. It is worth $50 billion.

*OPL 289 and OPL 233 were awarded to Cleanwater Consortium. The two fields are worth $200 billion.

*OPL 288 was awarded to Focus Energy. The field is worth $70 billion.

*OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited. The field is worth $100 billion.

The group said: “From our analysis above, 90 per cent of oil blocs are allocated to individuals from Northern Nigeria and some confused elements from the region are calling the Niger Delta Avengers names, some are calling us criminals.”

On the rumour that oil has been discovered in the North- East, it said: “How will you feel if the oil allegedly found is being managed by Niger Deltans? We are very sure that Niger Deltans will not even have two per cent oil bloc if oil is really found in the North-East. If you do not shut down, we will shut your stations permanently for you.”

Flag, currency, passport

The group hinted: “By October 2016, we will display our currency, national flag, passport, our ruling council and our territory to the world.

“To the United Nations, we are not asking for much, but to free the people of the Niger Delta from environmental pollution, slavery, and oppression. We want a country that will turn the creeks of the Niger Delta to a tourism haven, a country that will achieve its full potentials, a country that will make health care system accessible by everyone.”

Credit: Vanguard