The recent upsurge in youth militancy has forced Bayelsa State to drop from its position as number one oil producing state in the country to number three.
Worst hit is the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC), with most of its facilities shut down on account of the incessant attacks from the Niger Delta militants.
This revelation was made known yesterday at a meeting between the state House of Assembly House Committee on Oil and Gas and the representatives of the Anglo Dutch oil company in Yenagoa.
Speaking at the meeting the Acting Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Opusiri Otobo described as unfortunate the activities of the suspected militants in the region whiich has made the state to concede its one position to the neighbouring states.
The lawmaker noted with sadness that Bayelsa is now placed third among the most productive states in the operation of SPDC in the Niger Delta region.
As a way out of the face-off between some of the host communities and the SPDC, the Acting Chairman called on the oil giant to always abide by its promises as it relates to the implementation of the Global Memorandum of Understanding.
Referring to a petition written against the company by the people of Agorogbene, in Sagbama local government area of the state, the assembly gave the company 2-day ultimatum to react to the issues raised in the petition.
The community in their petition had accused the company of abandoning a derrick constructed in 1962 at the middle of Ebeni river, adding that it has posed a threat to the lives and property of the people of the area.
Commending the people of the community for their civil approach to the matter, the Acting Chairman assured them that the matter would be resolved amicably.
Responding, SPDC Relation Manager, Bayelsa state Funkakpo Fufeyin appealed to the aggrieved community to give them time to look into the matter.