There was jubilation at the Kula Town Field in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday following the reopening of the Belema flow Station, popularly known as OML 25 which had been shut down for two years.
The flow station which had been under the ‘forceful occupation’ of mostly women from Belema, Offoin-Ama and Ngeje Communities of Kula Kingdom, resumed operation following an agreement reportedly signed between the federal government, host communities and the joint venture operators of NNPC, Shell Petroleum Company and Belema Oil Producing.
Clad in white polo tops with ‘Kula Victory Celebration’ boldly inscribed in the front and rear, the people celebrated the reopening of the oil facility with pomp, singing and dancing in the open field.
Even as the facility, located some nautical miles from Kula, was cordoned off by heavily armed security operatives, apparently to forestall any form of ‘trouble-shooting’ by irate youths, journalists who came to cover the event and others who sailed to the area to have firsthand view of the event, could only watch from a distance, sitting pretty on their boats while the reopening went on.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Mele Kolo Kyrari explained that the shutdown of the facility was as a result of breakdown of law and order in the community, adding that the unfortunate situation led to the loss of over 40,000 barrels of crude oil for two years.
He said in monetary terms, a total of 1.7 billion US Dollars which according to him, could have benefitted both the communities and the federal government.
Kyari said what the federal government did was to engage the community and its leadership to ensure that the dispute between them and Shell is resolved and thanked the Kula Community for allowing the resumption of oil operations in the facility.
In his speech at the occasion, the President/Founder of Belema Oil Producing, Jach-Rich Tein Jnr., expressed pleasure that the cry of the women of the host communities for better living has been recognized by the federal government.
“Their cries has been heard by the federal government ably represented by the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum; the Group Managing Director of NNPC; recognized by the MD of Shell represented by the Deputy MD and all the technical persons”, he said, adding that he is happy because the community is happy.
The Belema Oil Producing boss described the event as significant as according to him, the facility is well positioned to meet the future labour challenges of not only the host communities but the nation at large.
“If we fail to put the platform that will enable business to thrive in this part of the country, then we have a major challenge and that is why the GMD and the Minister took it as an important business to come here with all the important members of the government and its agencies to demonstrate that we recognize what you have been looking for and your struggles”, he said.
The august event at the Kula Town Field was witnessed by royal fathers, including the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete Spiff; HRH, King Bourdillion Allen Ekine and many others.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva described the event as historical as attested by the high level of delegation that visited the community over the issue of oil exploration.
While assuring the people of the federal government cooperation and support at all times, the Minister also assured that the current relationship with the Kula community would not be the last.
