Former presidents, top military officers, politicians and businessmen of northern origin own not less than 83 per cent of Nigeria’s oil blocks.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, disclosed this on Wednesday during the debate by the Senate on the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill.
Enang, who gave the details of the ownership of all the oil blocks, advised that when the PIB is finally passed, the allocation of the oil blocks must be revoked and re-awarded for equity and fairness.
He said: “These (oil bloc awards) need to be looked into, revoked and re-awarded.
“The federal character, which is a principle applicable in every aspect of our national existence, should also be brought to bear in the application of our oil blocs, marginal fields and prospection licences.
“Cavendish Petroleum, the operators of the OML 110, awarded to Alhaji Mai Deribe of Borno State-North East, nets an average of about N4 billion monthly.
“Seplat/Platform Petroleum, operators of the Asuokpu/Umutu marginal field, has Mallam (Prince) Sanusi Lamido, as a major shareholder and director.
“South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO) was established by General T.Y. Danjuma, who is also the Chairman of Eni Nigeria Limited.
“SAPETRO partnered with Total Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) and Brasoil Oil Services Company Nigeria Limited to become operators of the OPL 246.
“AMNI International Petroleum and Development Company is owned by Alhaji (Colonel) Sani Bello of Kontogora, Niger State.
“They are operators of OML 112 and OML 117.
“A former Petroleum Minister and former OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) Chairman, Rilwanu Lukman, another northerner, manages AMNI oil blocs and with very key interest in the NNPC/Vitol trading deal.
“Oriental Energy Resources Limited, a company owned by Alhaji Indimi, runs three oil blocs: OML 115, the Oldwok field and Ebok field.
“Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s Express Petroleum and Gas Limited operates OML 108.
“OML 113 allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Limited is owned by Alhaji W.I. Folawiyo.
“OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited owned by Emeka Offor, which was sold by Starcrest to Addax Petroleum. Emeka Offor still has a stake in Addax operations in Nigeria.
“Mike Adenuga’s Conoil is the oldest indigenous oil exploration industry in Nigeria with six oil blocs.
“Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo’s Northeast Petroleum Limited is the holder of the OPL 215 License, NOREST Petroleum, which it is known as, was awarded the blocs OPL 276 and OPL 283 and closing thereupon a Joint Venture Agreement with Centrica Resources Nigeria Limited and CCC Oil and Gas.
“INTEL is owned by Atiku, Yar’Adua and Ado Bayero and has substantial stakes in Nigeria’s oil exploration industry both in Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe.”
Enang told newsmen after the day’s sitting: “My argument is that for us to move forward, these persons have held these oil blocs and they are richer than the whole region or their states.
“Like some people who own oil bloc in the North East, they are richer than the entire six or seven states of the North East.
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