Technical committee, ors Expose Exxon Mobil * Describe as grossly deficient company’s excuse on relocation

* Says Oil giant is afraid of its shadows

The refusal of Exxon Mobil to relocate her headquarters to her operational base and the subsequent excuse tendered by the company has been described as grossly inefficient by a joint team of joint meeting of the core communities Paramount Rulers’ Forum and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited’s core community technical committee.

The committee in a communiqué accused the Leader of the Federal House of Representatives Femi Gbajiamila as insincere and clannish. They listed certain reasons why Exxon Mobil has refused to heed the clarion call of relocating to Akwa Ibom were it is drilling oil from.

The committee maintained that Exxon Mobil is simply scared of its shadow.

They said, “That we have it on good authority ExxonMobil is deeply worried about exposing its expatriate and other senior workers to the hazards of the environmental pollution and devastation they have caused through long years of negligent operation;

That they have refused to move because they know the level of destruction their operations have brought to the land and people of Akwa Ibom State and so they believe the environment is unsafe, health-wise for their senior staff considering the frequency of early deaths and reduced life span of the inhabitants of the area”

The Communique reads in part that, “the company started out as Mobil Producing Nigeria in 1955 to prospect for oil around the Badagry area with head office in Lagos. From its Lagos office, it explored the Nigerian coastline and found oil in commercial quantity off the coast of the then South Eastern State. By 1969, the volume of business had peaked to a level it had to establish an airstrip, a liaison/operational office in Eket. Two flights or more operated daily to carry its workers, contractors and light materials from Lagos to Eket for the operations of the company. That between 1969-1989, the business grew to the extent that it established full operational office; built a housing estate for its senior staff – both expatriates and local; acquired residential accommodation in town for several other workers and began to invest in infrastructure development within the area”

The release maintained also according to the committee that “we take notice of the recent attempt at the House of Representatives to settle the issue of relocation through a motion and point out that it was a wrong approach. 

It is a decision for the executive. However, it is pertinent to point out that the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (because he represents Lagos) allowed his selfish interest to becloud his sense of judgment and patriotism when he kicked against the motion. He appears not to be in touch with his people, who have persistently and vociferously been clamouring for a restructuring of the country in line with fiscal federalism. When the federation is restructured, would the IOC’s remain in Lagos to exploit the resources of the Niger Delta region?

That the onus for the relocation of international oil companies to their areas of operation, however, rest squarely on the Federal Government of Nigeria. With its 60 percent investment against 40 percent by the Joint Venture Partners, the Federal Government should show commitment and give a clear directive to its partners to relocate;

That investments in the mainstay of the country’s economy should not be managed by “squatter” companies operating from briefcases and computers with a readiness to leave as soon as the oil is finished”.