President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua has directed the governors of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states to ensure early return of the oil multinationals to their shut facilities in their states.
Yar�Adua reportedly told Governor Timipre Silva-Sam of Bayelsa State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Mr. Celestine Omehia of Rivers State, that the country could not survive endless closure of oil facilities.
A reliable source in Government House, Asaba, informed our correspondent that Yar�Adua on Tuesday directed the governors to create an enabling environment for the oil majors, especially Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chevron Nigeria Limited to return to their abandoned fields in the states within the shortest possible time.
The Dutch oil firm alone shut production platforms producing over 500,000 barrels per day since February 2006.
Concerted efforts by the Dutch firm to return to the fields were rebuffed by the Niger Delta militants.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that Uduaghan apparently in obedience to the presidential directive, summoned a special security council meeting on Wednesday to discuss the re-entry process by the oil majors.
The meeting, held in Warri, was attended by the Commander of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Restore Hope, Brig.-Gen. Lawrence Ngubane, the Commanding Officer, NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base, Navy Capt. Mufutau Ajibade, his 93 Battalion counterpart, Lt. Col. Danjuma Ali-Kefi, and Commissioner of Police, State Command, Mr. Hezekiah Dimka.
It was learnt that some members of the Delta Waterways Security Committee, recently inaugurated by Uduaghan, attended the meeting held at Governor�s Office Annex, Warri.
Investigation by our correspondent further revealed that Uduaghan intimated the service commanders about the position of the President and urged them to fashion out measures to restore confidence in the managements of the oil firms so that they could return to the fields.
Our source said, �Mr. President has directed the governors of the Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states to do all within their powers to ensure that the oil companies resume oil exploration and exploitation in their respective states with immediate effect.
�Already, Delta State governor has initiated moves in compliance with the presidential directive,� added a government house source, who craved anonymity.
Our correspondent sighted some top officials of SPDC at the venue of the meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
The team, led by SPDC�s Corporate Relations Manager, Mr. Harriman Oyofo, also included the Manager, Community Relations, Mr. Donald Ovwredjor, and two foreign nationals, whose status could not be ascertained before press time.
They were waiting to be invited into the meeting when our correspondent departed the venue.
Although Uduaghan could not be reached for comment on Wednesday, one of his aides confirmed the report. The aide, who craved anonymity, said his boss was on top of the development.
Uduaghan, during a press briefing last week Wednesday, said Yar�Adua had directed the governors of the three states to restore sanity to the areas.