07 August 2014, Abuja – Communities hosting the Nigerian Agip Oil Company operation at Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have reopened five oil wells earlier shut down in the Idu Oil Fields. The oil wells were shut over Agip’s non-fulfillment of community development obligations to its host communities. Secretary of Egbebiri II community, Solomon Ogiama, the told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday that oil wells three, six, eight, 11 and 12 earlier shut down and put out of production by youths of the area were reopened on Wednesday evening. He said the access road to the facilities were also cleared of blockades mounted by the youths, following assurances in a meeting with officials of the company in Port Harcourt. Ogiama said the community had resolved to give peace a chance to show its readiness to provide a peaceful environment to the oil firm to operate while it expects Agip to honour its agreements with the community. He said, “Representatives of our communities have resolved to shift grounds following a meeting with Agip officials on Wednesday in Port Harcourt; we reached agreement with them. “We have reopened the wells and expect them to reciprocate by implementing their obligations in the existing MoU they have with us; that is what we want.” In an email response to NAN on Wednesday, the Media Relations Office Manager at Eni, Mr Filipo Cotalini, which operates in Nigeria as NAOC, said the Italian energy firm was investigating the incident. Cotalini said the firm would issue a statement in due course. Checks at the oil fields on Thursday indicated that the youths who sacked the oil workers and kept vigil at the faculties had pulled out. – The Punch
Subscribe for Updates
Get the latest energy news from Sweetcrudereports.