Kogi youths back assembly over oil-producing status

Kogi State has intensified efforts at joining the league of oil-producing states, as a coalition of youth organisations in the state has declared its support for the call by the state House of Assembly urging the Federal Government to list the state as an oil-producing one.

The group, Concerned Youth Group, in a statement by its state coordinator, Oladele Nihi, in Lokoja, said giving the state an oil-producing status would end the hostility between Kogi and Anambra states.

The group said, “It is in our view that the only thing that can end the killing of innocent people, destruction of property in the area is the declaration of Kogi by the Federal Government as an oil-producing state.

“Orient Petroleum Resources Plc, having been granted licenses – OPL 195 and OPK 916 by the Federal Government has been lifting crude oil from Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, has fully drilled four oil wells from its activities within Kogi, Edo and Anambra states.

“These oil wells numbered one, two, three and four were named Anambra River wells. Evidentially, wells number three and four are located in Ibaji Local Government of Kogi State.

“The quality of crude being lifted, according to the official website of the Orient Petroleum Resources Plc, from these wells, is about 33,000 barrels per day.

“Apart from this, it is now abundantly obvious that as the company continues the exploration activities in Ibaji and other parts of Kogi like Alade in Igalamela/odolu Local government area more oil sites are being discovered.”

The group which, recalled that the petroleum company initial sited its operational base in Echeno in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State urged President Buhari to look into their demands.

“It is interesting to know that Orient Petroleum Resources limited had its operational base at Echeno in Ibaji, Kogi State when the company arrived on the scene for oil exploration before the hostilities over the boundary began.”

“We therefore with every sense of responsibility call on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency look into this issue without any further delay to declare Kogi Sate an oil producing state.”