Niger Delta activist fumes as oil firms delay relocation to the region

A Niger Delta activist, Sheriff Mulade, has frowned at the delay by multinational oil companies to relocate their headquarters to their host states in the region.

Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo, during his visit to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state in continuation of federal government's peace move to Niger Deltans, ordered oil firms to relocate their headquarters to host states.

He had mandated the minister of state for petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, to ensure that the oil firms complied with government's directive.

But the Niger Delta activist, Comrade Mulade has expressed displeasure that several months after the directive was given, the multinational oil companies were yet to relocate their headquarters to the region.

Comrade Mulade wondered why it was taking the multinational oil companies a long time to obey the directive of the federal government

According to him, people of the oil rich Niger Delta region were being shortchanged by the multinational oil companies, saying they must be made to relocate to their host states in order to put them on check.

He said: "It is amazing to us that only in Nigeria that multinational oil companies headquarters are situated outside their operations area.

“In the United States of America, Chevron headquarters are within its operations area and therefore, Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo must do the needful to mount pressure on the multinational oil companies to relocate to their host states with immediate effect."

The activist, who is also the chairman of oil rich Kokodiagbene community in Gbararmatu Kingdom, Warri south west local government area of Delta state added: "Let the acting president back his words with action.

“I want to remind the acting president on his directive to multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region to relocate their headquarters to their host states.

“This is one directive that must not be swept under the carpet. The federal government must do everything possible to enforce this directive that was hailed by the people of the region when it was given. “We want that directive to be enforced now