Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to halt the planned sale of four oil wells in the country until due process is ascertained.
In a statement signed by Suraju Olanrewaju, HEDA’s Chairman, the oil wells already put up for sale are; OML 24, OML 98, OML 122, OML 110, OML 88, OML 62, OML 11, OPL 292 and OPL 258 and worth $22.5b.
In a letter dispatched to Buhari, marked “Urgent Intervention” the HEDA petition signed by its Chairman, Suraju stated that “the total cost of the oil wells run to about 12billion dollars. We want to know why these oil wells are being put up for sale. Who are the prospective buyers? Where will the proceeds of the oil wells go? How will Nigerians benefit from the sale of the oil wells?”
Suraju said oil wells have been used over the years for political patronage and sold to individuals by fiat. “This should stop. The resources belong to Nigerians and they should not be sold without prior and informed consent of the people,” he said.
The group said selling the oil wells at a time the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) is undergoing probe is even more suspicious.
HEDA said it is also important to know when and where the bids were advertised and what is the level of competence of the bidders.
The organisation also threatened to seek appropriate and available legal means to reverse any action by the government considered to be inimical to public interest and accountably transparent, stressing that Nigerians have the right to determine what the Federal Government is doing with the oil wells.
“The decision to sell the oil wells can only be taken after due consultation with relevant stakeholders and active participation of the civil society organisations, media and labour to understand and verify the beneficial owners of the bidding companies.”
“Selling national assets is not a decision to be taken by a few people. Selling of these oil wells will have long term implications for the future of Nigeria beyond the tenure of those who wish to sell the oil wells.”
“This is the reason why the Federal Government should not sell the oil wells without constructive engagement of the people but rather the employment of a Consultant as middlemen for the sale of these oil blocks. The process must be transparent and Nigerians must know who the buyers of the oil wells are and on what conditions,” he said.
