The government of Edo State has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately halt crude oil drilling in disputed wells between Edo and Delta states until the matter is resolved, escalating tensions between the neighboring states.
Deputy Governor Hon Dennis Idahosa made the urgent appeal during a meeting with members of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) led by Director General Adamu Adaji. Idahosa further demanded the freezing of accounts belonging to Delta state-based oil firms to prevent them from continuing to pay royalties to the sister state.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the President to stop or instruct the regulatory agencies to also stop all the benefits accruing to Delta State pending when this matter is resolved,” Idahosa stated. “It is clear that Delta State is playing games with us and also the National Boundary Commission. It is clear that they don’t want this matter to be resolved, knowing fully well that those assets belong to Edo State.”
The deputy governor emphasized that affected communities, including Orogho and Urhonigbe, have remained peaceful despite the provocation. He revealed that Edo State submitted all required documents to the NBC as far back as July, while Delta state has yet to submit corresponding documentation.
“Our people are suffering from things they are supposed to be benefitting from. God has given them all these opportunities for them to use to develop their community and their state, instead, the NBC is allowing these opportunities to go to Delta State,” Idahosa declared, warning that the unresolved issue could escalate to potential hostilities between the two states.
“There is so much tension and pressure in the affected communities, and, if the state government cannot give them something substantive to work with, it might lead to internal or communal crises. We don’t want that, that is why we want this issue resolved as soon as possible,” he added.
NBC Director General Adamu Adaji reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to urgently resolve the matter, noting that the visit was necessitated by the need to address the issue. “We cannot allow a party to delay the process. There must be an end to it,” Adaji stated, promising that the commission would personally interface with both sides to ensure clarity and identification for final recommendations to the federal government.
Source: Vanguard via allafrica.com