FG orders Energia Oil Ltd to recognize Obodougwa-Ogume in Delta State as host community

Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal government through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has asked Energia Limited, an indigenous E&P company, to abide by the judgment of the Supreme Court and honour its organization’s social contractual obligation to Obodougwa-Ogume in Delta State as host community and extending same to Emu-Ebendo which is a contiguous and impacted community.

President Muhammadu Buhari doubles as the current Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The Federal government in a strong-worded letter addressed to the Managing Director of Energia Limited, formally recognized Obodougwa-Ogume as the host community of Energia Oil facility in the Delta Delta region and as oil producing community, reversing plans to concede area of the oil facilities to neigbouring Eme-Ebendo community following fiercely contested two parcels of land known as Oluji and Iyiechi located 6km away from the facilities.

The letter signed by Gregory F. Zi Esq Director, Legal Service on behalf of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, dated November 1, 2022, reads:

“The Ministry is in receipt of a letter from the office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

“The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Miniser of Justice having reviewed both decision of the Supreme Court in Suit No: SC80/1997 and the judement of the High CCourt in Suit No.HCK/52/2018 has directed the following:
a. That the Judgement of the Supreme Court as interpreted by the High Court in this matter remains binding and as such all parties are obligated to obey same.
b. That by virtue of Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which emphatically provides that the decision of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons and by Court with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.
c. That the High Court Judgement held that the judgement of the Supreme Court is limited to the Oluji and Iyiech land as contained in the reliefs and that the judgment did not make the Obodougwa-Ogume community a tenant of Emu-Ebendo.
d. That all parties, including Energia Oil Limited and the relevant government MDAs are bound by the decision of the apex court, from which there can be no further appeal or contrary action by the parties.
“Furthermore as directed, you are requested to abide by these judgements and honour your organition’s social contractual obligation to Obodougwa-Ogume community a Host community and extending same to Emu-Ebendo which is a contiguous and impacted community”, the letter concluded.

With the latest development, the Federal Government has cast it decision to break decades of failed attempts by the Delta State government, which virtually, has declined to take feasible stance on the mater.

The President Buhari is hoped to bring the communities closer to a lasting peace.

A source from the Presidency told The Time Africa that the decision to recognize Obodougwa-Ogume as Energia Oil facility Host community should not be construed. He said the Presidency remained committed to brokering peace between the two communities, saying, “that is a great deal for Obodougwa-Ogume and a great deal for Emu-Ebendo community.”

The Official said the decision of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was unavoidable because the Supreme Court judgment on the disputed area of land is very clear.

On the possibility of unleash wave of violence which could make the region more volatile following the directive, the source said, “there may not be disagreement and dissent regarding the position of the Federal Government,” but he appealed for “calm, for moderation, and for the voices of tolerance to prevail over the purveyors of hate.”

He expressed reassurances about the expected consequences of the decision, but said, “We believe that any action that would undermine these efforts must absolutely be avoided.”

Recall that the Delta State government has been back-and-forth in settling the impasse between Obodougwa-Ogume and Emu-Ebendo communities that many committees of the State spent much of their tenures conducting negotiations to resolve the status without success.

By directing Energia Limited to recognize Obodougwa-Ogume as host community, President Muhammadu Buhari’s aides said, it has enhanced his credibility as a peacemaker. He said the recognition is of current and historic reality.

Reacting to the development, Comrade Anslem Oyibo, the Chairman of the Community Development Committee of Obodougwa Ogume said, “today we finally acknowledge the obvious: Obodougwa-Ogume is host community of Energia Oil facilities,” adding, “this is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do.”

Recognizing Obodougwa-Ogume as host community, he added, was “a long overdue step to advance the peace process.”

“This is a welcome step by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and I hope the rights will protect the community resource,” he said.