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Anambra: Sahara Upstream clears air on its activities in Oil producing communities

SAHARA UPSTREAM PRODUCTION LTD says it got proper approvals from relevant agencies and the Anambra State government before it started scouting operations in some communities in the State. The OIL exploration company gave this clarification  when it  appeared before the Anambra State House of Assembly to interact with the law makers over their operations and activities so far in the area.The House Committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources  invited the company after it received several petitions and protest letters from some members of the public over the activities of the Company in Ihiala and Ogbaru local government areas. The Speaker of the House Mr Somtochukwu Udeze during his remarks at the Executive session, noted that there have been series of  reports and petitions against the  company over their activities in the oil producing communitiees in Anambra state.Mr Udeze  noted that  the aim of inviting the Company was to strengthen the relationship between them and the state as well as the host  communities.He said there was no personal interest but rather effort was  to represent the people s interest and work to ensure the safety of all.During the interaction, the SAHARA UPSTREAM PRODUCTION LTD representatives took time to explain how far they have gone and also cleard the doubts surrounding their operations in Anambra state. According to them, a copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment,  EIA was submitted to the Anambra state ministry of Environment  during the former governor Willie Obiano s tenure. The Sahara team explained that 22 communities, in Ihiala and Ogbaru  local government areas  were  engaged during the period of scouting and operations in the state. The Comapany also explained that  Local content law was followed during the period  and the people of the various communities were employed  too. According to them , it was yet to start  drilling  oil but will start after it  has concluded  other logistics including looking at the viability and commercial quantity of available oil resources.     " we are trying to gather prospects and once we conclude and it's in commercial quantities, we will surely do our Community Social Responsibility to the host communities. We are very careful and once we commence operations, we will engage the host communities.we need to go back to the commission and get approvals before we proceed"    " The mandate is to increase the oil production across the country and with the help of Anambra state we can explore and meet up the target of OPEC and more"     " The Block we have is 228 , just a block, that cuts across three states of Imo, Anambra and Delta. we understand what the activities could do to the host communities and we did EIA to the areas we are working. In 2020  we ensured that everything that needed to be paid was paid during our acquiring period."The House committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources after hearing the submissions , commended Sahara Company for starting well in Anambra and sharing its robust social impact plans for the host communities that and prioritizes environmental sustainability and seamless community relations that will promote shared property and socio-economic growth.The Sahara team told the law makers that they have also employed community persons in line with the spirt of local content optimisation and donated palliatives to flooded communities as well as supported capacity building of officers at the   Ministry of Environment .Radio Nigeria Correspondent Uche Ndeke reports that the Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources,  Mr Chidiebele Ibemeka urged the company to try to establish their flow station and metering in  Anambra state as well as consider some indigenes as permanent staff when they begin full oil exploration.Mr Ibemeka promised that they will continue to make laws that will protect the interest of the host communities and also guarantee the safety and smooth operations of the companies.   The Committee also requested that SAHARA UPSTREAM PRODUCTION LTD  furnish it with relevant documents to back up their claims of activities in the state.