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Tag: SPDC

  • ‘Why SPDC, others should stay off Ogoni’

    ‘Why SPDC, others should stay off Ogoni’

    The Ogoni General Assembly has said that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Robo-Michael Nigeria Limited and others  should stay off Ogoniland in the interest of peace.

    It noted that the people were not opposed to the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, but insisted that SPDC remained persona non grata in the area.

    Renowned environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni leaders in 1993 said that Shell could not hold stakes or profit from exploration and production of oil and gas in Ogoniland.

    Rising from a meeting on Saturday, Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, with Chief Gani Topba as national coordinator, at the Suanu Finimale Nwika Conference Centre in Bori, reaffirmed the people’s desire to remain in Nigeria.

    In a 14-point communique signed by Kabari Agara, asked officials of SPDC to stop their desperate moves to return to Ogoniland through the back door.

    Shell, through its spokesman, Joseph Obari, insisted that it is neither laying pipes nor contemplating to return to Ogoniland, but repairing the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) passing through Ogoni to Bonny Island.

    The communique reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources, should reject the application of SPDC to renew its lease over Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11 (Ogoni Fields).

    “SPDC’s subsisting lease over OML 11 (Ogoni Fields), which will expire in 2019, should be revoked immediately, to pave the way for discussions with Ogoni elders and leaders of thought on the demands of the Ogoni people, as articulated in the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) presented to the Federal Government of Nigeria in October 1990, before the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland.

    “The unilateral decision of NNPC to grant approval and operatorship licence to RoboMichael Nigeria Limited to resume oil production in OML 11 (Ogoni Fields), on behalf of SPDC, without the free, prior and informed consent of the Ogoni people, as guaranteed by international law, is brazen and undemocratic, as it is capable of igniting fresh crisis in the area.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria should urgently rebuild all Ogoni communities that were destroyed by the Nigerian military between 1993 and 1998, resettle and rehabilitate all Ogoni refugees in Nigeria and in the Diaspora and victims of human rights violations during the period.

    “Ogoni people reiterate that Shell must accept responsibility and apologise for its complicity in the human rights violations and murder of Ogoni people between 1993 and 1998.

    “Royal Dutch Shell Plc and its Nigerian subsidiary, SPDC, must establish and implement an appropriate and adequate compensation mechanism, consistent with the requirements of international law and industry best practices to compensate the Ogoni people for the environmental degradation, health impairment and loss of livelihoods, to which they have been subjected, through the decades of SPDC’s oil and gas operations in Ogoniland.”

    Ogoni people demanded speedy implementation of recommendations in the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the environmental assessment of Ogoniland.

    They mandated the Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates to facilitate reconciliation of Ogoni leaders and stakeholders, to foster the development of Ogoniland.

    They reaffirmed their belief in the non-violent approach in their quest for social, economic, political, cultural and environmental justice, but declared that headquarters of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) must be relocated to Ogoniland from Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

    They lauded security chiefs for the sustenance of peace in Ogoniland, while maintaining that the security set-up should remain committed to upholding the law and rights in Ogoniland and other parts of the Niger Delta.

    Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Topba, said: “What you have seen is that Ogoni people have adopted the communiqué. What the Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates will do now is to make sure every position of this assembly is implemented.

    “We are going to ensure that we circulate this position around the world. President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the National Assembly, embassies of countries and the United Nations will have copies, just as we did with the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR). We are doing this so that the government can know what to work with. I can tell you that the current security architecture has changed. Look at how they are protecting Ogoni people. Ogoni will develop. I can assure you that everything about Shell and Robo-Michael Nigeria Limited in Ogoniland is dead and dead for ever. Today (Saturday) is the final burial.

    “The leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has failed. If the President of MOSOP, Chief Legborsi Pyagbara, wants to do Ogoni thing, he should make use of our document.”

  • Okwuchi, Sosoliso crash survivor, visits SPDC

    Okwuchi, Sosoliso crash survivor, visits SPDC

    It was an emotional moment when Miss Kechi Okwuchi, a survivor of the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash that claimed many lives, visited the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to express gratitude for the financial assistance the company gave her after the  incident.

    Kechi, her father’s friend, Mazi Victor Okoronkwo and her aunty, Mrs. Uloma Umeano, were received by Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria.

    Kechi, who was returning from school in Abuja to Port Harcourt, survived the crash but suffered third-degree burns. When her plight came to the notice of SPDC, the company  stepped in and ensured that she was flown to South Africa for treatment.

    She was later moved to the United States for more treatment.

    Kechi’s father, Mr. Okwuchi, in a letter read by Mazi Okoronkwo, said: “On December 10, 2005, Shell intervened, notwithstanding the medical uncertainty to save life regardless of cost; intervention propelled by a corporate policy that puts life above else. We thank and applaud you for it.’’

    Kechi added: “I am incredibly grateful and I walk through every day of my life knowing that I am here because of the amount of effort SPDC put into making sure that I stayed alive … you came when all looked dark and you shone a light of hope into my life.”

    She said her family would remain grateful to SPDC for ensuring that she received the best medical care available. ‘’I have never seen this kind of kindness from a corporation before,’ she added.

    Kechi also presented a certificate of recognition from the Shriners Hospitals for Children (Galveston, Texas) to SPDC for its thoughtful and generous contribution to the hospital.

    Okunbor said: “It was instinctive for us as an organisation to react the way we did as the most important thing for us then was to save and preserve lives. Even though we were not directly involved, the leadership decided that we had to intervene and do all we could as a company to help and today, I am happy we did.”

  • Okwuchi, Sosoliso crash survivor visits SPDC

    It was an emotional moment when Miss Kechi Okwuchi, a survivor of the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash that claimed many lives, visited the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to express gratitude for the financial assistance the company gave her after the  incident.

    Kechi, her father’s friend, Mazi Victor Okoronkwo and her aunty, Mrs. Uloma Umeano, were received by Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria.

    Kechi, who was returning from school in Abuja to Port Harcourt, survived the crash but suffered third-degree burns. When her plight came to the notice of SPDC, the company  stepped in and ensured that she was flown to South Africa for treatment.

    She was later moved to the United States for more treatment.

    Kechi’s father, Mr. Okwuchi, in a letter read by Mazi Okoronkwo, said: “On December 10, 2005, Shell intervened, notwithstanding the medical uncertainty to save life regardless of cost; intervention propelled by a corporate policy that puts life above else. We thank and applaud you for it.’’

    Kechi added: “I am incredibly grateful and I walk through every day of my life knowing that I am here because of the amount of effort SPDC put into making sure that I stayed alive … you came when all looked dark and you shone a light of hope into my life.”

    She said her family would remain grateful to SPDC for ensuring that she received the best medical care available. ‘’I have never seen this kind of kindness from a corporation before,’ she added.

    Kechi also presented a certificate of recognition from the Shriners Hospitals for Children (Galveston, Texas) to SPDC for its thoughtful and generous contribution to the hospital.

    Okunbor said: “It was instinctive for us as an organisation to react the way we did as the most important thing for us then was to save and preserve lives. Even though we were not directly involved, the leadership decided that we had to intervene and do all we could as a company to help and today, I am happy we did.”

  • Okwuchi, Sosoliso crash survivor, visits SPDC

    It was a moment filled with emotions when Miss Kechi Okwuchi, a survivor of the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash that claimed many lives, visited the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to express gratitude for the financial assistance the company gave her after the  incident.

    Kechi, her father’s friend, Mazi Victor Okoronkwo and her aunty, Mrs. Uloma Umeano, were received by Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria.

    Kechi, who was returning from school in Abuja to Port Harcourt, survived the crash but suffered third-degree burns. When her plight came to the notice of SPDC, the company  stepped in and ensured that she was flown to South Africa for treatment.

    She was later moved to the United States for more treatment.

    Kechi’s father, Mr. Okwuchi, in a letter read by Mazi Okoronkwo, said: “On December 10, 2005, Shell intervened, notwithstanding the medical uncertainty to save life regardless of cost; intervention propelled by a corporate policy that puts life above else. We thank and applaud you for it.’’

    Kechi added: “I am incredibly grateful and I walk through every day of my life knowing that I am here because of the amount of effort SPDC put into making sure that I stayed alive … you came when all looked dark and you shone a light of hope into my life.”

    She said her family would remain grateful to SPDC for ensuring that she received the best medical care available. ‘’I have never seen this kind of kindness from a corporation before,’ she added.

    Kechi also presented a certificate of recognition from the Shriners Hospitals for Children (Galveston, Texas) to SPDC for its thoughtful and generous contribution to the hospital.

    Okunbor said: “It was instinctive for us as an organisation to react the way we did as the most important thing for us then was to save and preserve lives. Even though we were not directly involved, the leadership decided that we had to intervene and do all we could as a company to help and today, I am happy we did.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Shell supports Bayelsa youths with N12m start-up capital

    Shell supports Bayelsa youths with N12m start-up capital

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Thursday presented a business support grant of N12 million to 30 participants of its youth entrepreneurship scheme.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Yenagoa, Mr Igo Weli, General Manager, SPDC, said that the company had so far empowered 6, 580 youths from the Niger Delta under the ‘LIVEWIRE’ entrepreneurship programme for youths between age 18 and 35.

    Weli, who was represented by Mr Kiri Obomanu, Head of GMoU Maturation Unit of SPDC, said that the beneficiaries had undergone training in essential business and entrepreneurship management.

    He said that 150 young entrepreneurs participated in the 2017 edition of the Shell LiveWIRE programme in the Niger Delta region.

    According to him, the scheme enables young people to start their own businesses and create employment, rather than seeking for elusive employment opportunities.

    “It provides budding young entrepreneurs with access to the essential business knowledge and customised support they need to transform their enterprising ideas into a viable and sustainable business.

    “LiveWIRE programme is targeted at young people between ages 18-35 to inspire, encourage and support them to start their own businesses or expand existing ones.

    “We do this by providing them requisite training and start up finance.

    “It is hoped that with legitimate alternative means of livelihood, our young men and women will turn their backs on vices,” he said.

    Mr Collins Cocodia, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Youths Development, urged SPDC to strengthen its collaboration with the state government on youth empowerment.

    Cocodia applauded the oil firm for the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by taking their peers off the employment market.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Bertha Erekosima, whose specialty is on bags and shoe production, commended SPDC for the scheme and pledged to uphold the objectives of the programme and expand their businesses.

    Mr Sapele Lawrence, who specialised in fish farming, said that he would deploy the grant to expand his existing farm.

    “This grant is a welcome development, I have only one pond and have been yearning to expand my ponds, my dream is to have six ponds and this grant will go a long way and I will have to hire more hands.

    “I am also looking at producing fingerlings because here in Bayelsa, we don’t have anyone involved in breeding and fish farmers travel to Delta to get fingerings, so I will further deploy the grant into these areas,” Lawrence said.

  • Why Niger Delta is no longer attractive to investors, by SPDC

    The General Manager, External Relations, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Igo Well,  yesterday said the Niger Delta was no longer attractive for investment.

    Weli made the claim in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of an SPDC-sponsored two-day meeting with stakeholders in Abia and Rivers states.

    He said declining interest by investors was partly due to restiveness, damage of facilities and the unpredictable nature of the region’s business environment.

    “The Niger Delta is no longer attractive to investors, as most businesses have left with new and potential investors preferring to invest in other places, such as Lagos.

    “There are issues in Nigeria today but there are parts of the country that are still working. Even in the midst of these issues and challenges, Lagos is making progress.

    “Investors are going to Lagos because of the choices the state government makes and the way they organise themselves and the confidence that gives to investors, which is the reverse in the Niger Delta.

    “If Dangote could invest $18 billion to build a refinery in Lagos that ordinarily should be sited in the Niger Delta, then the Niger Delta should be seriously concerned.

    “The region is depriving itself of investment, employment and business opportunities because of endless agitations and choices it took out of anger,” the SPDC official said.

    Weli explained that Dangote refinery would create over 149,000 jobs in Lagos, and other Southwest states will benefit.

    He said unemployment was rising in the Niger Delta partly because most firms have left while others have reduced their operation in the area.

    Weli wondered why the region is yet to develop despite benefiting from 13 per cent derivation and presence of establishments as the Niger Delta Development Commission; Niger Delta Ministry and Amnesty Programme.

    According to him, people who desire to hurt SPDC forget that the company is a global brand with assets all over the world, and as such can make adjustments.

    “Even the existing companies’ activities are dropping because everyday instead of spending time thinking of how to grow the business; the companies are busy thinking of how to manage crises.

    “So, people need to think deeply before they act because perception of the situation in the area is likened to one day one trouble, and no longer one week one trouble.

    “We should ask ourselves questions of why the region is not on the path of progress; why its roads, schools, hospitals and electricity are not different.

    “Well, we should look no further because it is simply the choices the region is making,” he said.

    Weli said re-positioning the Niger Delta would involve all stakeholders, including states and local governments; private sector and the people.

     

  • NNPC/Shell Cup: Two best players for Holland

    NNPC/Shell Cup: Two best players for Holland

    TWO outstanding players of the 19th edition of the annual NNPC/Shell Cup football competition organised for secondary schools in the 36 states of the country will have the opportunity of visiting Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Football Academy for further training.

    The General Manager, External Relations, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr. Igo Weli, made this known during a media briefing ahead of the zonal preliminaries of the competition scheduled to hold from June 15 to 18 in nine cities across the country.

    Weli who was ably represented by Mr. Banji Adekoya, Manager, Non-Technical Risk, said that on completion of secondary education, the top 10 talents will be eligible to compete for NNPC/Shell University Scholarships.

    Meanwhile, a mouth-watering sum of N8.2 million has been set aside as prize money for the winners which will see the overall champion of this edition being rewarded with N3.5 million, the runner up gets N2.3 million while the third place team will smile home with N1.1 million.

    The quarter finals are billed to hold on June 21 and 22, while a

    Coaching clinics by Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Youth Academy will hold from June 24 to 26. The semi-final and final matches are planned for June 27 and June 29 respectively in Lagos.

  • SPDC other IOCs bosses risk arrest by Reps panel

    The Country Managing Director of Shell Development Company (SPDC) as well as the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) INTEL, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as other international oil companies (IOC) risk arrest if they fail to honour the latest invitation of the ad-Hoc Committee investigating the planned relocation of major oil companies from Port Harcourt, The Nation has gathered.

    The House had constituted an ad hoc committee to carry out the investigation following reports of a planned move to relocate the offices of SPDC from Port Harcourt.

    A disappointed Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Ibrahim Isiaka, flanked by other members, made the declaration after another failed meeting with the chief executives of the oil companies.

    The Committee regretted that the affected recalcitrant oil companies had to test its patience with the knowledge that the Committee does not have all the time in the world to carry out the investigation.

    Isiaka noted that the continuous refusal of the oil companies to honour the invitation seemed to be a statement to undermine the investigation.

    He however warned that the Committee would not hesitate to invoke relevant constitutional provisions to force the appearance of any CEOs that failed to honour the invitation for a rescheduled meeting slated for 24th of this month.

    While he warned the CEOs of SPDC, INTEL and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) not to tempt the Committee, Isiaka noted that the Committee would not be deterred in its reconciliatory efforts aimed at getting to the root of the issue.

    The Committee asked SPDC to submit details of all its movable and immovable assets in Port Harcourt between December 2017 and December 2016 before the rescheduled meeting.

     

  • SPDC LiveWIRE beneficiaries to benefit from $.8m fund

    SPDC LiveWIRE beneficiaries to benefit from $.8m fund

    Twenty-eight beneficiaries of the Shell Nigeria LiveWIRE programme are retooling to get a good share of the $800,000 growth fund for the year, provided by Grofin Investment, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has said.

    Grofin is a business development financier supporting viable, growth-oriented small enterprises in the Niger Delta through the Aspire Small Business Funds (ASBF) supported by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    To brighten their chances of securing sufficient financial support from Grofin and other lending institutions, SPDC has completed a one-day Business Scale-up and Linkage workshop for the beneficiaries drawn from Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.

    “This is part of the mentoring element of Shell LiveWIRE. Our aim is to continuously contribute to creating sustainable employment, economic growth and social development through the provision of business development assistance to youths particularly in the Niger Delta,” said SPDC General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli.

    Speaking at the workshop, SPDC Social Performance/Social Investment Manager, Gloria Udoh, urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the mentoring and linkage opportunities to move their enterprises to higher levels.

    “This is an opportunity to sharpen your presentation, marketing and business relationship skills; understand how to grow your business; and learn how to make a successful pitch to access the Grofin SME loans and other business support facilities,” she said.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Stella Nnaji described the workshop as “filled with so much energy, motivation and opportunities.” She expressed gratitude to SPDC and its joint venture partners for the LiveWIRE programme, which she said was making a world of difference in the growth of small and medium scale businesses in the Niger Delta.

    The Shell LiveWIRE is a flagship enterprise development programme designed to help young people explore the option of starting their own business as a real and viable career option.

  • British court stops Nigeria oil spill case against Shell

    British court stops Nigeria oil spill case against Shell

    Britain’s high court ruled on Thursday that oil major Royal Dutch Shell cannot be sued in London courts over Nigerian oil spill allegations.

    If the High Court had ruled in favour of the two groups, other claimants against British-based multinationals could have been emboldened to pursue legal action through the British courts, some legal experts had said.

    Villagers from the Bille and Ogale communities in Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta region were trying to pursue oil spill allegations against the company’s Nigerian subsidiary Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) in British courts.

    The court ruled that the suit did not establish that Shell, the parent company, had legal responsibility for SPDC’s actions.

    “The claimants have failed to demonstrate that the first threshold requirement – is there a ‘real issue’ between the claimant and the anchor defendants – is met,” the ruling stated.

    Leigh Day, a law firm representing the villagers, said it would appeal the ruling.

    Igo Weli, SPDC’s general manager for external relations, said the firm hoped “the strong message sent by the English court today ensures that any future claims by Nigerian communities concerning operations conducted in Nigeria will be heard in the proper local courts.”

    The Nigerian villagers argued domestic courts were unfit to hear their case, while Shell said the matter was a uniquely Nigerian issue and should be heard there.

    Shell also denies responsibility for the spills, which it says were due to sabotage and illegal refining.

    “It is our view that the judgment failed to consider critical evidence which shows the decisive direction and control Royal Dutch Shell exercises over its Nigerian subsidiary,” said Dan Leader, partner at Leigh Day who also represented Nigeria’s Bodo community in another oil spill claim against Shell that ended in a $55 million settlement in 2015.

    In 2016, the High Court ruled that a case brought by Zambian villagers against miner Vedanta Resources over environmental pollution could be heard in England.