Ijaw Youths Council wants Shell to shelve plans to move HQ out of Niger Delta

 The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Sunday urged Shell Companies in Nigeria to shelve plans to relocate its headquarters from Port Harcourt to Lagos or be prepared to move oil blocks it is occupying in the Niger Delta region as well.

The IYC in a statement issued in Yenagoa by its Spokesman, Mr Eric Omare noted that the plan negates the policies of the federal government encouraging investments in oil communities.

Omare said that the plan was insensitive and provocative at a time stakeholders were seeking to strengthen the economy of the region and challenged the oil firm to also move its oil blocks out of the region.

“This move by Shell is not only insensitive but capable of escalating the already volatile security situation in the Niger Delta region.

“While critical stakeholders are making frantic efforts to restore peace and security to the already volatile Niger Delta region, the company is planning another move that would worsen the security situation in the Delta.

“The IYC is aware of the evil and selfish plan of Shell which is to substantially sell off its onshore assets, maintain only crude oil transportation and storage facilities and operate the lucrative EA and Bonga offshore oil fields located in the Niger Delta from Lagos by carrying of its workers through helicopter on a daily basis.

“This plan clearly demonstrates the anti-community and Niger Delta nature of Shell.

“It was such anti-oil producing communities policies by Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil and other multinationals operating in the Niger Delta region that gave birth to the present restiveness in the Niger Delta region,” Omare stated.

The noted that the  implication of Shell relocating  from the Niger Delta to Lagos is that the region would lose all the economic and other associated benefits that come with having a corporate headquarters in the region.

According to Omare, Niger Delta states would not only lose revenue but even businessmen doing business with Shell had to move from the Niger Delta region to Lagos with the attendant negative economic effects.

“To this end, the IYC has call on Shell to halt its evil and anti-Niger Delta plan or be ready to completely move out of its offshore oil platforms located in the Niger Delta namely: EIA and Bonga offshore oil fields.

“These are the oil fields that Shell intends to operate from Lagos through transportation of workers on helicopter on a daily basis so as to avoid its corporate responsibilities to Niger Delta communities affected by its operations.

“ If Shell insists on moving its corporate headquarters from the Niger Delta to Lagos, it must also be ready to move out from the EA and Bonga offshore oil fields,” IYC said.