The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to take immediate steps to relocate the head offices of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) to Akwa Ibom State.
The House also ordered ExxonMobil, one of the world's largest publicly traded international oil and gas companies to relocate its operational base to the state.
The resolution followed a Motion brought before the House by the Member representing Ini State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong at Tuesday plenary.
Ekpenyong in his submission, informed the House that the relocation of the head offices of DPR and NAPIMS will have the ripple effect of forcing ExxonMobil to also relocate its headquarters to Akwa Ibom State.
He pointed out that the State contributes about 33% of Nigeria’s daily volume of oil production and is by far the highest oil producing State in Nigeria.
The Assemblyman said with the adverse environmental impacts caused by crude oil and natural gas production such as air and ground water pollution, damage to flora and fauna, exposure of biota to contaminants, among other hazards, ExxonMobil should have its operational base in the state, as such development would have positive economic impacts on the people.
"Whereas as the saying goes “to whom much is given, much is expected”. Akwa Ibom State having given the highest volume of oil and revenue to the Federal Republic of Nigeria expects the Federal Government to relocate the head offices of two NNPC subsidiaries in , namely Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) to Akwa Ibom State", he said.
The House therefore unanimously resolved that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari and Members of the National Assembly from Akwa Ibom extraction.
Reacting, the Speaker of House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, said the refusal of DPR and NAPIMS to relocate to the state was a deliberate attempt aimed at depriving Akwa Ibom people of their rights and privileges, and commended Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekpeyong for sponsoring the Motion which he described as timely.
While commending the Lawmakers for supporting the Motion which he said will foster development in Akwa Ibom State, the Speaker directed the Clerk, Mrs Mandu Umoren to communicate the resolution of the House to the appropriate authorities.
At Plenary also, the House received a Motion on "Urgent Need to Curb Extortion of Electricity Consumers in Akwa Ibom State", sponsored by the Member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency, Hon. Victor Ekwere.
The Motion was referred to the Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities to interface with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) and report back to the House within two weeks.
Similarly, the House also received a Motion on "The Need for Compliance with the Provisions of the Nigerian Local Content Law and Memorandum of Agreement by Multi National and Oil Servicing Companies Operating within the Territorial Waters of Akwa Ibom State", sponsored by the Member representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Idongesit Ntekpere.
In the meantime, the House has adjourned plenary to Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 10 am.
Press Unit,
Office of the Speaker,
Akwa lbom State House of Assembl
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