Oyibode Leads Delta State Oil and Gas Ministry to Year of Remarkable Success

Some achievements of the administration through the Ministry of Oil and Gas led by Hon. Vincent Ogheneruemu Oyibode

The Honourable Commissioner, Olorogun Oyibode Vincent began his tenure on a solid note, with A Familiarisation Tour of Oil And Gas Installations Across The State).

The Ministry of Oil and Gas has Delta State’s mandate to regulate the Oil and Gas sector in collaboration with relevant Federal Government agencies. Its key thrust is to draw a balance between providing the much required environment for oil and gas businesses to thrive and ensure that accrued benefits to Host Communities are accessed.

With the inception of the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori-led administration, the Ministry has developed working models in tandem with the MORE Agenda. Consequently, production and operation downtimes in all International Oil Companies (IOCs), Marginal Field Operations and ancillary businesses in Delta State have been reduced to an impressive minimum.

Consequently,

Ø Delta State crude production has tremendously improved.
Ø Youth restiveness has been curbed,
Ø Employment opportunities have increased in the oil and gas sector, and
Ø Host Communities have witnessed appreciable development with the execution of Corporate Social Responsibility projects by the oil companies.

The Ministry has conceptualized new Dispute Resolution Mechanisms, Oil and Gas Business Opportunity Pathways and Oil Companies – Host Communities Engagement Patterns.

The Ministry is latching on the abundance of gas resources in the state to facilitate programs and activities aimed at deepening gas utilization. Delta State is now an active player in the National Gas Expansion initiative.

The Ministry is instrumental to the development of the newly approved protocol and coordinates the process for the spatial location of LPG Plants, Filling Stations and related businesses in Delta State.

In the first year of the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori – led administration, Delta State has witnessed Zero protests/disputed engineered Shut Downs across the upstream, mid and downstream oil and gas subsector.

Delta State won the Ms Nafisa Aliyu Haruna Award for the “Safest & Most Peaceful State for Oil and Gas Investments in Nigeria in 2024” at an award ceremony sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Abuja. This is no doubt, a testimony to the timely intervention of the Ministry of Oil and Gas under the supervision of the Honourable Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Chief Vincent Oyibode in arresting potential crisis between the Oil Majors and critical stakeholders in host communities where they operate.

The Ministry’s swift aversion of intended shutdown of Otumara Flow Station in OML 43, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State over Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) fallout which would have cost Delta State 20,000/bpd of its production quota is one of many steps taken to ensure production of oil and gas resources are stabilized to boost production capacities and in turn engender a stable and improved economy.

In the period under review, the Ministry successfully resolved over ten years ownership tussle and claim to Well 9-Owhe Field in OML 30, operated by Heritage Operational Services Ltd. between Otor-Owhe and Olomoro communities in Isoko South and Isoko North local government areas of the state.

Swift resolution of a near crisis situation between Uzere Community in Isoko South LGA and Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. over the Independent Power Plant project. As at today, there is great jubilation in Uzere as the project is now about 85% completed.

The Ministry also successfully brokered a free gas supply arrangement by Heritage Energy Operational Services to the plant for the next two years on completion.

Stability in the petroleum products’ supply chain in Delta State with the swift resolution of a dispute within the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union.

The Ministry was also instrumental to the peaceful composition of the PTD (NUPENG) leadership in Delta State.

After an unsuccessful entry amidst and ownership claim to the area by over 7 communities, the Ministry successfully midwifed engagements to allow for the drilling of KURI Well 2 in Kuri Field (Makaraba field area) operated by SHN Energy Ltd which is near completion.

Resolution of an over ten-year industrial dispute involving the Udu/Ughelli South and North OML 34 Host Community Workers Association and NPDC ND Western. Our intervention has brought about almost 100% increase in the salaries and welfare packages for the Host Communities’ staff.

Resolution of OML 26 AMT operated Pipeline Surveillance dispute involving Jeruvie Nig. Ltd./Ozoro Monarch and the Ikpide family of Ozoro kingdom in Isoko North LGA.

Resolution of the PIA implementation logjam between Egbema and Chevron Nig. Limited. The Ministry facilitated the successful setting up of a Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) to engender peace and harmony between all stakeholders.

Following an unsuccessful attempt by PAN OCEAN, the Ministry successfully facilitated the implementation of the PIA and setting up of the HCDT in OML 147 cluster operated by PANOCEAN Nig. Ltd.