Involve indigenous companies in procurement of Shell Onshore Assets – IYC to Nigerian govt

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has warned consortiums to stay clear from procuring the Onshore Assets of Shell Petroleum Development Company in the Niger Delta Region, particularly, those in the Ijaw areas without the participation of indigenous companies and stakeholders.

The IYC alleged that the current move by Shell in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria and its regulatory agencies to sell its Onshore Assets in the Niger Delta region is against the Local Content Act of Nigeria

The IYC warned that attempts to boycott the Ijaw people in the procurement process for Shell Onshore Assets will be vehemently resisted by all means.

The IYC handed down the warning at a world press conference held at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. where the Spokesman, Binebai Yerin Princewill read the warning.

“We strongly advise that these consortiums stay clear of this erroneous process midwifed by Shell to further embolden the mystery of the respective host communities that Shell is famous for their underdevelopment, the destruction of their environment and abuse of stakeholders for the over 70 years of Shell’s oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta.”

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Princewill who was flanked by Freedom Atigbi and Maebuye Nangi, IYC Deputy President and Secretary-General, respectively, said, “Without mincing words, IYC is daring Shell and its collaborators to go on with this process without involving the local people whose areas these Onshore Assets are located and watch the grave negative impact these will cost the oil and gas industry.”

The IYC said, “Ijaw people cannot continue to be treated as slaves by eating crumbs. Any attempt to continue to treat our people as second-class citizens in this process will meet stiff resistance by any means necessary.”

“It is an insult to the sensibility of the Niger Delta stakeholders, particularly the Ijaw people, after many years of agitation for resource control which has led to the loss of several lives and properties, Shell in its usual antics wants to re-sign our people into modern-modern day slavery in the oil and gas industry that has been the live wire of the Nigerian economy.

“More worrisome is the fact that this attempt is made in an era where the Ijaw nation is laced with capable and competent stakeholders that can afford some of these assets.”

The IYC urged the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu to quickly swing into action by advising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu right.

“We make bold to say until our people are involved and given the first right of refusal to participate, we will advise the consortiums not to throw their money into the buying process as it will amount to a total waste of resources.”