Okenyi Kenechi
An Indian company, Sterling Exploration and Production, SEEPCO has continued to ‘illegally’ explore crude oil and gas in Anambra state despite being stopped twice.
This week, videos emerged from the Ogwuikpele community in the Ogbaru Local Government of the state, showing exploration activities and pollution of water bodies by the exploration company.
The videos which have gone viral on social media have generated talking points from concerned indigenes of the area and the state.
But are concerns over exploration activities of the company in the area new? No! On May 8, 2018, the House of Representatives ordered immediate stoppage of oil exploration by the company in Ogwu Ikpele.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion titled “Urgent Need for Intervention in the illegal oil Exploration, Environmental Pollution, Epidemic Outbreak and Communal Clash as a result of Operation of Sterling Global Oil Company at Ogwu Ikpele in Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State”, sponsored by Hon. Chukwuma Onyema.
Onyema who noted that Ogwu Ikpele which boasts of huge deposits of crude oil shares boundary with Omoku, Okpai and Uchi in Rivers State stated that the oil exploration by the company was illegal and was at variance with the operational agreement in compliance with extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said: “The House notes Ogwu Ikpele in Anambra State with huge deposit of crude oil shares boundary with Omoku, Okpai and Uchi in Rivers State.
“Also notes that the people of Ogwu Ikpele and environs in particular, and Ogbaru in general are predominantly farmers and fishermen.
“Aware that unknown to the people of Ogwu Ikpele, Sterling Global Oil Exploration and Energy Company is operating in their lands without Environmental Impact Assessment, Baseline Survey, Social- Economic Impact Assessment and Corporate Social Responsibility.
“Informed that the Oil Company has no site liaison office in Ogwu Ikpele or in any other place known to the people and its representative scheduled meetings with the people of Ogwu Ikpele only in hotels.
“Concerned that the activities of the oil company are causing environmental, air and water Pollution in the area, thereby resulting in outbreak of respiratory tract infections, cholera, water borne diseases, costal erosion and destruction of the ecosystem.
“Also concerned that the management of the oil company is instigating communal clashes capable of leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties in Ogwu Ikpele community and its environs.
“Urges Global Oil Exploration and Energy Company to cease operations in Ogwu Ikpele pending the visit by the committees”.
Despite the order issued by the Reps, SEEPCO continued its operations in the area.
Licenses for the exploration crude in Nigeria are the exclusive preserve of the federal government through the ministry of petroleum.
Host communities and states do not have hands in the licensing despite being the direct victims of the environmental hazards arising from these explorations.
The company’s activities in Anambra became an object of public scrutiny again when in November 2020, Governor Willy Obiano and the ministry of environment said its activities are not carried out in environmentally sustainable and friendly manner.
The state government and the ministry added that the company made no concerted efforts to identify the potential negative impact of the exploration project in the area.
Governor Obiano and Sharon Ikeazor, the minister of state for environment expressed their concerns during a stakeholders’ meeting on the Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed Ameshi and Enyi Field Development Project of the company.
Ikeazor noted that SEEPCO did not obtain all the required regulatory permits before embarking on drilling at the site, in clear violation of section 62 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, adding that a stop-work order of July 6, 2020, was issued to it.
While addressing the state government’s concern over SEEPCO’s activities, Obiano said that the stakeholders’ meeting was a follow up to a series of complaints from the state government on the exploration activities of the company in the state.
He said: “Honourable Minister of State your visit to Anambra State will give you first-hand knowledge of how SEEPCO activities have led to the disastrous environmental degradation of the Ogwu-Ikpele and Ogwu Aniocha communities in Agbaru Local Government Area.
“Their operations have further worsened the plight and living conditions of those communities, thereby creating palpable tension and restiveness that were uncommon before the company arrived.
“We are counting on you to ensure that SEEPCO complies with the EIA requirement, so that we can leave no stone unturned in our quest to become a member of the oil and gas producing state in Nigeria.’’
In February, the company was again fingered in intra-communal crises which led to the death of over 15 persons.
SEEPCO is a venture from the Sandesara Group, an Indian conglomerate. The company wrote on its website that it operates in 6 continents and several countries such as India, the USA, China, Japan, Europe, Middle East and South-East Asia.
The company ventured into the Nigerian oil and gas market in 2005 and is presently producing crude oil in the Niger Delta.
Tony Chukwueke, regarded as one of the most knowledgeable Nigerians in the petroleum sector, having served as Director of Petroleum Resources (DPR), from 2005 – 2009 is the chairman of SEEPCO in Nigeria.
When contacted by Standard Observers for comments on its activities in Ogwu Ikpele, the company declined.
In 2018, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) asked the Interpol unit of Nigeria to locate Nitin and Chetan Sandesara who owns SEEPCO parent company.
In September 2020, Chetan, his brother Nitin Sandesara were declared economic fugitives by a Dehli Court following application by the Enforcement Directorate of India.
He was accused of loundering 14,500 rupies. Also accused by the court were Sandesara’s wife Dipti, and family member Hitesh Patel Times of India reports.
The paper reported that since the issuance of non-bailable warrant on four of them, they have been shifting locations between Nigeria, UAE, UK and the US to escape arrest since 2018.
