By Tare Youdeowei

Leaders and people from oil and gas producing communities in OML30, in Delta State, have expressed concern that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NDPC, lacks the capacity to operate the assets, which it noted, the company was operating below the standard of former operators, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to the detriment of the host communities.

Speaking, weekend, in Ughelli, Delta State, the people, led by Chris Eriyamremu, said: “Though we had hoped and thought that NPDC could operate the assets, but unfolding events indicate that NPDC lacks the capacity, administrative structure and experience to manage them.

“The host communities and our people are now complaining that since NPDC took over operation, things have changed for the worse. In fact, recently we learnt that SPDC divested its shares in OML30 assets including the transfer of operations to Shoreline Natural Resources Limited, to maintain the SPDC standard of operations, but unfortunately, the immediate past Federal Government arm-twisted Shoreline Natural Resources Limited, and directed NPDC to operate the assets, which has not yielded any meaningful results.”