Nigeria’s oil rich Rivers State acquires Shell’s oil mining lease
Governor Nyesom Wike has announced Rivers State Government’s acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) 45 percent operating stakes in oil mining lease (OML) 11 in Ogoniland, Rivers state.
Wike, in a brief state broadcast, said his administration has also made a $150 million bid for the purchase of some other interest of SPDC, now placed on auction by extant order of the courts of law on the lease.
He said it is in Rivers best interest to fully make the acquisition because “it has become unlikely that for peace and security, the people of Ogoni in Rivers will welcome SPDC on their land forming part of OML 11” over decades of conflict with host communities which has forced Shell out for past 25 years.