In a significant move to enhance oil production in Nigeria, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri has sought a collaborative synergy with Bonny Kingdom to sustain the existing enabling environment for the nation’s energy sector to thrive.  

Lokpobiri’s proposition was made on Thursday, November 21, 2024 when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Grand Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, DSSRS, JP, Edward I, Perekule XI, at the King Perekule Palace, Bonny in Rivers State.

The Petroleum Minister stated that his visit underscored the Federal Government’s acknowledgement of Bonny’s strategic position as a very important factor in the oil and gas industry, being home to major international oil and gas companies (IOCs).

He further stressed the need to build more robust partnerships and collaboration with the leadership and people of Bonny Kingdom in order to sustain the atmosphere of peace that has created the enabling environment for the companies to operate smoothly.

The Minister highlighted the strategic position of Bonny Island with regards to the nation’s oil and gas sector, adding that it will be difficult for him to succeed as Petroleum Minister without the support and cooperation of Bonny Kingdom.

Lokpobiri, who served as Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District from 2007 to 2015, commended the Amanyanabo and people of Bonny Kingdom for providing the enabling environment for the corporate organizations to carry out their businesses, adding that it was in consideration of the peaceful disposition of Bonny Kingdom that the expansion trains of the NLNG plants will continue to be in Bonny.

“I want to assure Your Majesty and the people of Bonny that Bonny will continue to remain important as long as oil and gas is concerned, not only in Nigeria, not only in Africa, but the entire world.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to Your Majesty to please sustain this trajectory. Bonny will remain the best investment destination as far as oil and gas is concerned. So when other people want to suggest other places, it will be said ‘no, Bonny is still the best place to go.’

“Your Majesty, by the benevolence of Mr. President, he appointed your son the Minister of oil. I have the mandate to provide leadership over the oil sector. So I want as your own son to see how we can leverage and maximize the opportunities that exist.”  

He averred that the visit was to make a commitment that he was going to work closely with His Majesty and the people of Bonny to ensure that as many investments as possible are attracted.

The Minister informed His Majesty that under his watch as oil minister, Nigeria’s crude oil production has risen from 1 million barrels to 1.8 million barrels per day, expressing the hope that with proper partnership and collaboration in tackling pipeline vandalization, the daily oil production could rise as much as 3 million barrels per day.  

The Bayelsa born Oil Minister decried the activities of vandals who destroy pipelines and pollute the environment, saying that he has not seen anybody who has really developed their community with proceeds from pipeline vandalization.

“As Ijaw people, we are self-sustaining; we are known for doing legitimate things for survival. In this situation, Your Majesty, we believe that traditional rulers have critical roles to play in curbing the menace of pipeline vandalization and environmental pollution.

“So I came today before Your Majesty to plead for your support, leadership and cooperation so that we can stem the tide of these criminal activities,” he said, adding that government is working on changing the existing pipelines and deploying technology to monitor pipelines.

Finally, Lokpobiri urged the people of Bonny Kingdom to continue the trajectory in order to remain the best investment destination in Nigeria.

In his response, Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, DSSRS, JP, Edward I, Perekule XI, expressed gladness over the Minister’s visit, noting that it was an indication that the contributions of Bonny Kingdom to the economic wellbeing of Nigeria is appreciated, stressing that there was need for stronger working relationship and partnership between the Federal Government and Bonny Kingdom.

“Listening to you, it is important to establish the fact that none of us can succeed without the other. Bonny cannot succeed without you; the oil and gas sectors cannot succeed without Bonny.

“Bonny is a success story today because of the wonderful partnership we have with the oil and gas companies. I have the privilege of working with fantastic individuals in the corporate organizations here in Bonny. On the other hand, I also have very wonderful people around me.

“In 1958, my father, King Eugene, birthed the Shell Terminal in Bonny. And by the special grace of God, I anchored the Nigeria LNG in 1996. The reason I say all this is because, sometimes, history has a way of repeating itself.”

The Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom said it was as a result of what he has put in place in Bonny Kingdom that has made kingship very attractive to the extent that many people in Bonny wants to be king, informing that he meticulously developed a masterplan which has helped to identify areas of priorities.

He berated some chieftaincy houses for contriving to go independent of the rest of the Kingdom, pointing out that certain provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) appear to be giving some people a false notion of entitlement, asserting that people paid supreme prices for Bonny to be what it is today, and such ssacrifices cannot be swept under the carpet.

“Just to say that we have made a lot of progress. When we started we thought about water and electricity as the basic needs of our people.

“What we have achieved is as a result of having a masterplan, and we have worked together as one Kingdom all along. We have never gone our separate ways as families or houses – no. We have been one Kingdom.

“But the way the PIA is structured; it tends to give some people a false sense of right. And they begin to think that they will benefit more if they go independent from the rest of the Kingdom – which is totally unacceptable to us.”

“Bonny Kingdom did not just happen; people spent money to save the Kingdom in times of war. People spilled blood to get drinking water. For this estuary to open up, history has it that somebody had to sacrifice his daughter.

“So, people had really sacrificed a lot for Bonny to be what it is today. So Bonny people will not accept a situation where the NPRC will try to cause division and disunity amongst us.”

Assuring the Minister that Bonny Kingdom will continue to partner with the federal government to improve on the current situation, the Bonny Monarch used the occasion to inform him the conducive atmosphere provided by the Bonny people, for Train 7 project of the Nigeria LNG, it is unfortunate that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects attached to it were yet to commence even as the project is 70% completed.

“Train-7 has done 70%, but we’re still talking about the CSR projects attached to it. They have not even contracted the projects. We are not saying that they should give us the contract. All the listed contractors are their contractors. All we are saying is award the contracts and let the jobs commence. But that hasn’t happened as we speak.”

The Amanyanabo described the visit of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as reassuring, adding that it has reinforced the hope that things will be done properly. He said the people of Bonny are not asking for much, just for the government to give them a better life for their contributions to the economic growth of the nation, and expressed the hope that Bonny-Bodo road will be completed as every issue concerning funding has been resolved.

The King also drew the attention of the minister to the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, which, he said, is functioning like a secondary school.

His Majesty called on multinational companies in Bonny to pay more attention to building capacity amongst the people, and assured the minister that Bonny Kingdom will continue to support and cooperate with him in order to realize his target as the Minister of Petroleum (oil).

Finally, he expressed optimism that the meeting would mark the beginning of a new epoch in the already cordial relationship between Bonny Kingdom and the Federal Government.

A written address was rendered by Amasenibo Dave Banigo in which Bonny Kingdom told the Minister about the issue of registration of Host Community Petroleum Trust Fund, establishment of Bonny Deep Seaport, Free Trade Zone and the possibility of a refinery in Bonny, as well as insecurity on the Bonny marine corridors.

In his response, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri promised to use his good offices to ensure that all the concerns raised are addressed as quickly as possible.

Earlier, the chairman of Bonny Chiefs’ Council, Se-Alabo (Amb.) Dagogo Claude-Wilcox had welcomed the minister, and expressed the readiness of Bonny Kingdom to partner with him in order to achieve set objectives.

Photo Credits: FBI Photography