Leadership (Abuja)
Golu Timothy
5 June 2008
The Federal Government yesterday intervened to resolve, once and for all, the age-long crisis between the Ogoni Community and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), as President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has ordered that by the end of the year, another oil operator would take over Shell's interests in Ogoniland.
The president, who made this known during a meeting with Nigerian community in South Africa where he is on a state visit, said it was clear that "there is a total loss of confidence between Shell and the Ogoni people," and as such "another operator
acceptable to the Ogonis," will take over. Nobody is gaining from the conflict and stalemate. So this is the best solution."
According to the president, agreements had already been reached for the compensation to be paid by Shell for the environmental degradation arising from the spillage of crude petroleum resulting from their operations.
The president assured Nigerians living abroad that his government had taken up the issues of shabby treatment of Nigerians by other nations at the highest level while assuring Nigerians that his government would treat the issue "firmly".
While challenging Nigerians living abroad to "to project a good image of the country in all their activities," Yar'Adua assured Nigerians in Cape Town that his administration would protect all Nigerians in all circumstances, adding that the Ministry of Transport was looking at the incidence of maltreatment of Nigerians by the British Airways.
He expressed the "hope that sanctions would be applied", if necessary.
He also said it was erroneous for the rising price of crude oil to be blamed on crises in Iraq, Venezuela and Nigeria, attributing the situation to increasing energy demands by strong emerging economies, as well as the activities of speculators.
The President briefed them on the government's determination to focus on the development of "economic growth enablers," which will trigger the Nigerian economy towards irreversible development.
"If we pay urgent attention to power supply, iron and steel, petroleum and cement, all other sectors will pick up," he stated.
He challenged Nigerians all over the world to identify with, and join this national vision for the country to attain the 2020 Vision.
President Yar'Adua earlier co-chaired a Nigeria-South Africa Business Forum, with President Thabo Mbeki.
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