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  • NAOC acquisition earns Oando award

    NAOC acquisition earns Oando award

    Oando Plc has been adjudged as the company with the most impactful and transformative deal in Africa

    At the Africa Energy Week (AEW) 2024, Oando  emerged winner of the ‘Deal of the Year’ award in recognition of Oando’s $783 million acquisition of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) from the Italian Energy firm Eni on August 22, 2024.

    The Africa Energy Chamber (AEC), the  organisers of the annual week-long oil and gas conference, hosted and recognised different stakeholders at a Gala and Award night held at the Cape Town International Conference Center (CITCC), South Africa.

    According  to the organisers, the “Deal of the Year” award recognises the most transformative and impactful deal in the energy sector – honouring excellence in negotiation, strategic alignment, innovation and collaboration – and celebrates deals that drive advancements in energy and economic growth.

    The NAOC acquisition, 10 years in the making since Oando’s initial entry into the ConocoPhillips/NAOC/NNPC Joint Venture (JV) in 2014 when the company acquired ConocoPhillips Nigeria business, doubled Oando’s stake in the JV to 40 per cent and operator of the assets.

    Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu said the company was delighted and honoured to receive the ‘Deal of the Year’ award, which further celebrated what has been a remarkable year on many fronts.

    “First, we marked our 30th anniversary as a business, then concluded our strategic plan to acquire our second international oil company in a decade, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and step up to the role of operator.

    “This award is more than just an accolade for a successful deal closure; it represents a public acknowledgement of the culmination of 30 years of grit, hard work, resilience, and sheer belief in our vision,” Tinubu said.

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    He pointed out that NAOC acquisition was the culmination of a decade of preparation, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment to a vision of becoming Africa’s first indigenous international oil company.

    According to him, the acquisition was a testament to the organisation’s 30-year journey spanning the entire energy value chain, with consistent and deliberate actions at each stage that have led to the advancement of indigenous participation in the industry.

    He commended the staff,  financiers and partners of Oando for their belief and role in making the deal and the resultant award a reality.

    With this year’s AEW theme of “Invest in Africa Energies: Energy Growth Through an Enabling Environment”, the AEC, through the AEW Awards 2024, recognised other persons, International (IOCs) and National Oil Companies (NOCs) across the continent through awards in 10 categories.

  • Divestment of NAOC to Oando in line with PIA, says NUPRC

    Divestment of NAOC to Oando in line with PIA, says NUPRC

    The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday said the recent approval of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NOAC) to Oando Petroleum and Natural Oil and Gas Limited was in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. It also said  the divestment of Equinor to Chappal was in compliance with the PIA.

    NUPRC also said the divestment by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) to Seplat Energy Offshore Limited (Seplat) is  currently undergoing the same consent approval process.

    It said MPNU-Seplat consent process  is expected to be completed within the 120-day timeline provided by the PIA.

    It assured the public that the process for approving divestment applications is guided by “clearly defined frameworks in the assignment regulations and international best practices.”

    The NUPRC made the clarifications in a statement signed by its Head of  Public Affairs Unit, Mrs. Olaide Shonola. It  said the divestment approvals were transparent.

    The statement said: “The Commission wishes the public to be aware that the approvals given to the NAOC-Oando and Equinor – Chappal divestments were in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, defined regulatory framework, and standard consent approval process set by the Commission under the PIA…

    “In line with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)’s avowed commitment to transparency and belief in the right of the public to know about our regulatory activities, we wish to keep the public abreast of the status of certain divestments that have received ministerial consent and the divestment by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU), which has been subject to a lot of public attention.

    The statement gave a breakdown of the processes which led to the divestment of NAOC assets to Oando entities and shares in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) to Seplat.

    The commission said the consents to Oando and Chappal Energies were fulfilled according to the regulatory process.

    On NAOC divestment, the statement explained that NAOC by a letter of May 16, 2023, notified the commission of its intention to proceed with the divestment of participating interests in some of its oil and gas assets.

    Shonola said the commission by a letter dated May 21, 2023, requested NAOC to provide information on the proposed assignee.

    The statement added: “NAOC by another letter dated July 24, 2023, notified the commission that it had completed the technical evaluation of the companies shortlisted for the proposed transaction and submitted OANDO PNGCL and OANDO Coöperatief as qualified companies for the consideration of the commission.”

    It added that NUPRC by a letter dated August 9, 2023, granted approval to NAOC to proceed to the commercial stage of the transaction.

    The statement said NAOC, vide a letter of November 7, 2023, made a formal application requesting the consent of the Minister of Petroleum Resources to its divestment.

    The statement said in line with its processes, the commission by a letter of December 14, 2023, requested some information contained in its due diligence checklist on the transaction.

    It said NAOC on January 10, 2024, provided the information requested via the commission’s letter dated December 14, 2023.

    The commission said  the process was conducted in compliance with the requirements of relevant legislations, regulations and guidelines including the Petroleum Act, Petroleum Industry Act, Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulations, and the Upstream Asset Divestment and Exit Guidance Framework.

    NUPRC said the Divestment Framework evaluated the divestments based on Technical Capacity, Financial Viability, Legal Compliance, Decommissioning and Abandonment, Host Community Trust and Environmental Remediation, Industrial Relations and Labour Issues, and  Data Repatriation.

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    “ Additionally, NAOC obtained a waiver of pre-emption and consent to the divestment from NNPC, their partner on the blocks. To ensure due diligence, the commission, working with reputable external consultants identified significant pre-sale liabilities inherent in the assets to be divested by NAOC and proactively devised measures to ensure that the identified liabilities are adequately provided for,” NUPRC said.

    The statement clarified that  NUPRC’s thorough evaluation and due diligence process, anchored on the Seven Pillars of the Divestment Framework, ensured that potential assignees were capable and compliant with legal requirements and that all legacy liabilities were identified and appropriately managed.

    The statement said:  “The commission subsequently made recommendations to the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources based on comprehensive assessments which covered the timeline for review of application under the PIA and the Commission’s regulatory process.

    “The Equinor-Chappal divestment followed the same regulatory process as for the NAOC-Oando transaction.

    “On a comparative basis, MPNU through a letter dated February 24, 2022, notified the commission of its intention to assign 100% of its issued shares to Seplat Offshore Energy Limited. The Commission did not consent to this assignment because MPNU failed to obtain a waiver of pre-emption rights as well as the consent of NNPC, its partner on the blocks to the divestment.

    “It is worth pointing out that NNPC’s right to pre-emption and consent under the NNPCL/MPNU Joint Venture Joint Operating Agreement was the subject of Suit No: FCT/HC/BW/173/2022 Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited versus Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Development Nigeria Inc., Mobil Exploration Nigeria Inc. and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

    “In June 2024, NNPC and MPNU resolved their dispute with NNPC, and MPNU, by letter dated 26 June 2024 informed the commission of the resolution of the dispute. Upon resolution of this dispute, the commission communicated its no-objection  decision to the assignment via a letter dated July 4, 2024 and requested MPNU to provide information and documentation required under the commission’s due diligence checklist to enable the commission conduct its due diligence as required under the PIA.

    “MPNU by letter dated 18 July 2024 provided the information requested by the Commission.

    “ Accordingly, MPNU’s application to the commission for consent is currently undergoing due diligence review, under the same Divestment Framework applied to the NAOC-Oando and Equinor-Chappal divestment. The commission’s due diligence process is ongoing and within the 120-day timeline required by the PIA.

    “Given the above, the commission wishes to assure the public that the process for approving divestment applications is guided by the provisions of the PIA and clearly defined frameworks in the assignment regulations, guided by international best practices.

    “NUPRC, as an organisation guided by law and professionalism, will continue to pursue its statutory mandate in a legal, independent, technical, commercial, and professional manner, operating under the authority of the PIA.”

  • Vacate NAOC facility, Bayelsa govt tells protesting women

    Vacate NAOC facility, Bayelsa govt tells protesting women

    • Warns communities in land dispute against violence

    Bayelsa State Government has again warned communities embroiled in land and boundary disputes to refrain from resorting to armed violence, as government would deal decisively with any community found wanting.

    The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the warning at a meeting with leaders of Elepa and Egweama communities in Nembe and Brass local government areas respectively.

    Ewhrudjakpo said the government would not hesitate to apprehend leaders of communities, who encourage armed conflicts with their neighbours over ownership of ancestral lands.

    He called on the leaders of Elepa and Egweama communities to maintain the peace in their areas, as the ownership of the land where the Elepa Oil Fields are located is the subject of an ongoing legal suit at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    Emphasising the need to maintain the existing peace in all parts of the state, the Deputy Governor made it clear that as a responsible government, the Governor Douye Diri-led administration would not fold its arms and watch two communities go to war.

    To this end, he directed the state Police Command to liaise with other security agencies to protect lives and property in the area, including the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) facilities at the five Elepa oil wells.

    The Deputy Governor added that the government might direct the SPDC to open an escrow account into which all royalties accruing from the five oil wells will be paid, pending when the Supreme Court delivers its judgement on the land ownership dispute.

    Representations were made by the Chairman, Nembe Divisional Council of Chiefs, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, the CDC Chairman of Egweama, Mr. Tonye Yemoleigha, and the Paramount Ruler of Elepa Community, His Royal Highness Gelegukuma Apiri at the meeting.

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    In another development, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has appealed to the leaders of Okoroma clan to prevail on their women to vacate Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Oil Flow Station belonging to the NAOC as machinery had been put in place to address their grouse.

    He made the appeal at a meeting with representatives of NAOC and leaders of Okoroma led by the Chairman of the Okoroma Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness Ebinimi Donka Solomon.

    In their joint presentation, the Chairman of the Okoroma Chiefs Council, Chief Ebinimi Donka Solomon, and the spokesman, Chief Kienwiro Nanyo, explained that the women occupied the flow station because of the protracted electricity problem in the area.

    While appreciating the effort of the government to resolve the issue, they also appealed to the state government to establish a functional hospital in the area as there is none in the entire clan.

    Speaking on behalf of the NAOC, the Stakeholders and Community Development Manager, Mrs Moji Olorode, assured that the company was intensifying efforts to restore power supply to Okoroma.

  • Oil spillage: Bayelsa govt sues Agip for 1.6tn damages 

    Oil spillage: Bayelsa govt sues Agip for 1.6tn damages 

    Bayelsa State Government has taken the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Limited to a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, demanding N1.6tn compensation for oil spillage from the firm’s SBM Sirius, (offshore Brass) in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    In the suit filed by the Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kemeasuode Wodu, the government said the compensation was for general and exemplary damages from the spill which occurred on November 27, 2013.

    According to the suit filed in pursuant to Order 3 Rule 9 of the court, the spill contravened the provisions of Regulation 13 of the Petroleum Regulation Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

    The government is seeking “an injunction restraining the defendant, its agents and or servants from further discharging onto or allowing petroleum (crude oil) to escape onto the waters of and around the said SBM Sirius, (Offshore Brass) facility”.

    It asked the court to make an order directing the defendant (NAOC) to provide potable drinking water for the communities in Bayelsa State impacted by the spillage.

    The government further asked the court to direct the defendant to take all appropriate steps towards restoring the land, swamps, rivers and waters impacted by the spillage and pay compensation to all persons whose properties were destroyed.

    It averred that the spillage contravened relevant sections of the constitution and asked the court to declare that the spillage was caused by the operational error of the defendant.

    The plaintiff also demanded “a declaration that the defendant by allowing or causing petroleum to escape from its SBM Sirius facility as a result of its operational error, into the waters of around the said SBM Sirius facility contravened Regulation 13 of the Petroleum Act Cap P10 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    “A declaration that the defendant is under a legal obligation to restore the lands, rivers, creeks and the entire environment impacted by the aforesaid petroleum (crude oil) that escaped from the SBM Sirius (offshore brass) facility on November 27, 2013 to their original state before they were impacted.

    “A declaration that the defendant was under a legal obligation to pay compensation to all persons whose properties were polluted in Bayelsa State by the said petroleum (crude oil) that escaped from the SBM Sirius facility”.

  • DSS arraigns suspect over pipeline vandalism

    The Department of State Security (DSS) has dragged Mr. Nengi Samuel Ikiba to the Magistrate Court 11, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, accusing him of threatening to blow up a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

    Ikiba was said to have threatened the management of Agip through a text message he composed and sent to the company on January 25, 2016.

    The suspect in the text message allegedly asked the company to either award him a surveillance contract or risk an attack on its pipelines.

    A charge sheet signed by the DSS’ Prosecuting Lawyer, Victor Uchendu, said Ikiba committed an offence punishable under Section 389 of the Criminal Code, Law of Bayelsa State, 2006.

    The charge sheet said: “That you Nengi Samuel Ikiba, on or about the 25th day of January, 2016 in the Yenagoa Magisterial District caused the management of Agip Company Limited to receive an SMS via your GSM number 08037028391

    “In which you threatened to cause damage to the company’s facilities unless they award you a security surveillance contract and thereby committed an office punishable under Section 389 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C14, Law of Bayelsa State, 2006.”

    The court, however, adjourned the case to March 3, 2016, for hearing.

    Meanwhile, the President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, and the Bayelsa State chapter of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), warned youths in the Niger Delta region against vetting their anger of perceived injustices on oil installations and pipelines.

    Eradiri noted that the region’s agitations for social justice and equity had gone beyond violence, youths restiveness and economic sabotage.

    He called on the youth to embrace the new approach of intellectualism in engaging the government with the problems of the region.

    According to him resorting to sabotage through bursting of pipelines to send a message to the authorities was crude, uncivilised and against growth and development of the area.

    Eradiri spoke when the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), Bayelsa State chapter, in collaboration with A.J. Alagoa Library, donated thousands of books to Oronto Douglas Library and ICT Centre established by the IYC.

    He told the youths that education remained the key to development adding that without it, socio-economic and political development would continue to elude the region.

    He said: “We have come to realise that without education, there is nothing you can achieve and that is why we dedicated this library to our comrade, late Oronto Douglas, former Presidential aide.

  • NSCDC inaugurates gunboats in Bayelsa to tackle vandalism

    NSCDC inaugurates gunboats in Bayelsa to tackle vandalism

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Tuesday, inaugurated gunboats in Bayelsa State to tackle cases of pipeline vandalism and other maritime criminalities in the state.

    The gunboats were sent to the state command of NSCDC by the Federal Government a few days after suspected vandals attacked pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Brass, Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    The corps’ Commandant-General, Abdullahi Muhammadu, was said to be desirous of equipping the commands in the Niger Delta region to forestall further attacks on oil installations and other national assets.

    The gunboats were inaugurated at the Government Jetty, Yenagoa, by the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, in a brief ceremony that was attended by the deputy Governor, John Jonah; Chief of Staff, Talford Ongolo and all the security commanders in the state.

    Security commanders, who attended the event, were the Commissioner of Police, Peter Ogunyanwo; state Commandant, NSCDC, Desmond Agu and the Commander, Joint Force (JF), Operation Pulo Shield, among others.

    Muhammadu commended Dickson for his efforts on security adding that the governor “does not joke with security”.

    Muhammadu, who was represented by the Deputy Commandant-General, Operation, Mr. Nnamdi Nwiyi, said the presence of all the security heads at the event underscored the synergy existing among them.

    “This is the only state I have visited where all the service chiefs are represented in an event of this nature. It shows synergy and I really appreciate what we have seen,” he said.

    In his remarks, Dickson said all the security agencies and the government had developed the habit of working together as a team.

    He said his government was committed in protection of lives and properties as well as safeguarding national assets.

    He asked the commandant-general to send more maritime assets to the state insisting that Bayelsa is more riverine than every other state in the country.

    He thanked the officers and operatives of the state command of NSCDC and praised the dedication of the state commandant to his duties.

    Dickson, however, told the commandant-general that his command in the state needed more support to enable it protect critical public installations.

    He said: “Our government has a high priority for security. In our second term in office, we will consolidate on security.”

    The governor called on all the misguided youths who had taken to crime to quit or face the wrath of his government and security agencies.

    He said the government in partnership with security outfits would flush out “disgruntled and misguided youths out of the state.”

    Dickson who later inaugurated the new headquarters of NSCDC emphasised the need for cooperation among the security agencies.

    He also promised that his government would soon provide more gunboats to security agencies.

    Earlier in his speech, Agu commended Dickson for all his support for the command including building the new headquarters.

  • ARCO vs NAOC: Court fixes October 26 for hearing

    ARCO vs NAOC: Court fixes October 26 for hearing

    Justice Lambo Akambi of a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has adjourned till October 26, this year for hearing, the motion on jurisdiction in a case between Arco Group Plc and Nigerian Agip  Oil Company  (NAOC) Limited.

    Justice Akambi yesterday assumed jurisdiction to entertain the motion on jurisdiction by the defense parties.

    ARCO, an indigenous engineering company, in suit number FH/PH/CS/02/2015 filed before the court against NAOC, an Italian multinational company is seeking explanations from AGIP (NAOC) for violating the provisions of Nigeria Local Content Law.

    The plaintiff in the affidavit attached to the originating summons to the suit outlined the various ways the oil and gas giant has continuously and deliberately ignored, failed to reorganise the provision of the law in the award of contracts and purchase of equipment and parts, thereby short changing the government and indigenous companies in areas of its economy, capital flights, transfer of technology as well as unemployment.

    At the last sitting early June, the defence counsel, Charles Ajuya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), raised a motion to challenge the Jurisdiction of the court in the matter, insisting that the motion(on jurisdiction), be determined before the case could continue.

    But Wole Olanipekun (SAN) submitted that the defense counsel did not file a memorandum of appearance to enable him appear properly to challenge the court’s jurisdiction.

    The court struck out the defence application on jurisdiction with an order to the defendant to appear properly before him so that his application could be heard.

    The court urged Ajuya, to serve process to parties before yesterday’s adjourned date to enable him hear the application.

    However, the plaintiff was served with the memorandum of appearance during the court sitting. Olanipekun applied for time to study the document before making his arguments.

  • Bayelsa community vows to seize Agip platforms

    The people of Ogboinbiri Community, Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State, on Friday threatened to shut down oil production at a facility belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

    The Nation gathered that the community took the decision at a general meeting attended by its chiefs, elders, youths and women groups.

    The people of the community were said to be angry with the oil firm for allegedly failing to implement the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with them on July 8, 2009.

    The Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr. Appah Jonathan, in a statement he jointly signed with the CDC Secretary, Mr. Alex Jack, confirmed the planned action against Agip.

    He said the community would seize Agip platforms in the area beginning from Monday.

    “Ogboinbiri Community hereby gives notice to the Nigerian Agip Oil company limited that beginning from May 4, 2015, ,the community will shutdown all operations of NAOC in Ogboinbiri.

    “Ogboinbiri Community is prepared to protect her interest at any level. We therefore call on the management of NAOC to ensure maintenance of the existing peace,” he said.

    He said the Ogboinbiri condemned in strong terms the refusal of the company to carry out projects and other obligations as contained in the MoU it voluntarily signed with the community in 2009.

    He said the community passed a vote of no confidence in Agip for failing to embark on sand filling and shore protection in the area between 2009 and 2012 as contained in the MoU.

    He said the oil exploitation activities of Agip was gradually sinking land and forcing the community to disappear.

    He said: “We condemn the refusal of NAOC to settle cases from Ogboinbiri Community pending against it in courts and as directed by the court to be settled out of court.

    “We also condemn the refusal of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited to employ youths, provide skill acquisition and scholarships to our indigenes to cope with the difficult economic hardships foisted upon us by the company.

    “The company has also failed to respond to several letters dated 27/11/14, 20/01/2015 and 12/04/2015, demanding compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the community.”

  • Bayelsa intervenes in Agip, community crisis

    Bayelsa intervenes in Agip, community crisis

    The Bayelsa State Government has promised to resolve the crisis between the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and its host communities.

    It was learnt yesterday that Governor Seriake Dickson had met with representatives of the company and its three host communities of Ewoama, Okpoama and Twon Brass on Brass Island.

    A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary Daniel Iworiso-Markson said the meeting was held at the Government House in Yenagoa.

    Dickson said the government intervened on a number of issues bordering on crude oil production output and other challenges the company was facing.

    The governor said issues on Agip’s broken down power plant, which had been supplying electricity to the three communities, were discussed.

    He urged the company to consider using local content to repair some of its facilities.

    Dickson was confident that indigenous technicians could fix the company’s facilities, adding that Agip should build their potential by using them constantly.

    According to him, outages on Brass Island had been a recurrent issue during executive council meetings.

    He insisted that lack of electricity was hampering socioeconomic activities in the area.

    He hailed Agip for the provision of power to Brass Island for over 20 years.

    The governor explained that the company had promised to provide generators to serve as a stopgap measure, pending when repairs would be carried out on the broken down gas turbine power plant.

    Agip’s Public Affairs Divisional Manager Deineiruo Dan-Jumbo said the generators became faulty five years ago.

    But he said the company had been unable to get the manufacturers to repair the plant.

     

  • Pirates kill four policemen, abduct six others in Bayelsa

    Pirates kill four policemen, abduct six others in Bayelsa

    Palpable tension has gripped the Bayelsa waterways after pirates at separate incidents killed four policemen and abducted six other persons in Nembe waters, Nembe Local Government Area on Friday.

    It was gathered that the gunmen also seized a gunboat belonging to the Nigeria Police in an incident that occurred at about 1.30pm on the fateful day.

    The gunboat was said to be escorting a barge owned by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) when it came under attack.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums, who operated on a speedboat, laid ambush for the gunboat and opened fire on the policemen.

    They were said to have overpowered the police, killed and pushed them into the water and took control of the gunboat.

    It was learnt that the incident which occurred along Santa Barbara and Nembe waterways caused panic among travelers.

    The development was said to have delayed the movement of persons travelling to Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area, for the funeral of the uncle of a former governor of the state, Tmipre Sylva.

    Most of the guests for the burial were said to have waited at Ogbia jetty till after the gunmen finished their operation.

    A security source who pleaded anonymity said the hoodlums were not interested in the Agip barge and its occupants.

    He, however, said three policemen and the gunboat operator were killed after the gunmen hijacked the boat.

    He identified the boat driver as a civilian, adding that the bodies of the policemen had since been recovered.

    He revealed, “Policemen escorting Agip barge were attacked on Friday. The gunboat and the policemen were all taken away. The policemen were three including the driver of the boat making them four. The barge and its occupants escaped, because the gunboat was the target of the pirates. This incident happened along Santa Barbara and Nembe route at about 1.30pm. The pirates were after the gunboat and the arms.”

    In a separate incident, six persons working for a company identified as Icon Xearex, an oil servicing firm, have been abducted at Oluasiri in Nembe.

    It was gathered that the pirates attacked a boat owned by the company in the early hours of Friday and took the workers away.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in state, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said he was in Abuja for a program and could not comment on the incident.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, when reached for comment, claimed to be in a meeting.