The management of Shell Petroleum Development Company is set to evacuate its staff from the volatile oil locations in the Niger Delta ahead of the February 14 deadline given by a militant group in the region to the Anglo-Dutch oil major to do so.
A top official of SPDC told our correspondent on Tuesday that the management of the oil multinational had put logistics in place to move its workers to safe havens, latest by Friday, February 13, some 24 hours to the expiration of the ‘quit notice’.
A militant group led by Ateke Tom, the Niger Delta Vigilante and Patriotic Force, had asked the oil workers to leave the oil fields in the region by February 14.
The group said the safety of SPDC workers might not be guaranteed on the expiration of the ultimatum.
To this end, a reliable source in SPDC’s western operation headquarters in Warri told our correspondent on Tuesday that that workers serving in the open fields, especially those at the offshore and swamp locations, would be evacuated latest by Friday.
Also to be brought into safe areas are workers in the house boats on the open sea and along the waterways of the region as well as those serving in the flow stations and production platforms located in the dens of the militants and remote creeks in the region.
Our source said that the oil workers serving in Cawthorn Channels and other facilities in the sea would not be exempted.
Our source further stated that the oil workers serving in the eastern operation of SPDC in Rivers State would be most affected by the movement.
It was gathered that workers in the oil fields considered unsafe in Bayelsa and Delta states would also be sent home pending the restoration of law and order into the region.
The source said, “We (SPDC) are moving out workers from volatile locations in the region in view of the ultimatum given by the Niger Delta Vigilante and Patriotic Force that the oil workers should move out of oil platforms latest by Saturday, February 14.
“For security reasons, we are not going to disclose the details of the movement, especially the areas that will be affected and the date as well as the scope of the exercise. But no SPDC worker will be found at unsafe locations on Friday night.”
SPDC’s spokesman, Mr. Precious Okolobo, in a text message to our correspondent, said SPDC was not prepared to gamble with the safety and well-being of its workers and contractors’ staff.
“We take the safety of our staff and contractor personnel very seriously, and will do everything possible to ensure the safety of those working for us.
“However, the overall responsibility for security in the Niger Delta and the country lies with the government,” Okolobo said.
But he stated that SPDC would remain in the Niger Delta region despite the prevailing hostile operational environment, adding, that “We (SPDC) have no plans to leave the Niger Delta and Nigeria .”