Caution Issued Regarding Protest Impacting Aiteo’s Oil Production
The government of Bayelsa State has taken a firm stance against the planned protest scheduled to take place on the 26th of December in Nembe Basambiri, Nembe Local Government Area. This protest has the potential to disrupt oil production at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29, which is operated by Aiteo Eastern Exploration.
In a statement released by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Chief Ayiba Duba, the government emphasized the continuation of the suspension of youth and chiefs’ council activities in the area due to a previous violent crisis. The government has warned that security agencies are on high alert to prevent any potential disruption.
The conveyed statement articulates, “The attention of the Bayelsa government has been drawn to a planned protest on Dec. 26 by some individuals in Nembe Bassambiri in Nembe Local Government Area of the state, who have constituted themselves into youth and chiefs councils. The public should note that activities of these individuals are in violation of the subsisting suspension placed on all youth and chiefs’ councils’ activities in Bassambiri, at the wake of a violent crisis traceable to the unwholesome conduct of the youth body and chiefs’ council in the area in August.”
Furthermore, the government emphasized that the planned protest not only violates the law but also poses a potential threat to the state’s oil revenue and the Nigerian economy.
The government also underscored that the planned protest is unnecessary, as Aiteo has recently implemented alternative means of oil production to mitigate the impact of previous vandalism on the Nembe Creek Trunk Line.
The statement concludes with a firm warning, “Therefore, government wishes to warn those involved in this attempt to undermine the public peace in Nembe under the guise of protest against oil companies, to abort it immediately as there will be consequence for any unruly conduct. Meanwhile, all security agencies in the state have been put on red alert and will not hesitate to do everything within their means to prevent infraction in Nembe and indeed the entire state. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
It is important to heed the caution issued by the Bayelsa government and consider the potential consequences of the planned protest. Disruption to oil production can have far-reaching implications, not only for the state but for the broader Nigerian economy. It is crucial for all parties involved to seek peaceful and lawful means of addressing any grievances.
