By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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ABUJA—TO forestall crisis that could ensue in respect of the planned relocation of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, from Rivers State, the House of Representatives, yesterday, inaugurated an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate reasons behind the proposed relocation.

Inaugurating the Ad-hoc Committee in Abuja, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, stated that the planned relocation had generated serious  outcry, stressing that if nothing was urgently done to address the situation, it could degenerate to crisis.

House of Representatives

Dogara, who was represented by the Deputy Majority Whip, Pally Iriase, said that the House was determined to ensure a conducive working environment in the oil sector, adding that improved relationship between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta region was crucial in addressing some economic challenges confronting the country.

Explaining the importance of having a peaceful atmosphere in the Niger Delta region, Dogara said: “This is because the Niger Delta region sits atop oil wells where much of our revenue as a nation is derived from.

“Relocation by SPDC is said to be based on security concerns today. This has generated outcry and agitation by the people and if we as a House do not address it, it may escalate and result to violence and insecurity.”

The Speaker who added that the onus lied on the Federal Government and the House to ensure that the Niger Delta people were not denied justice, urged the committee to come up with report that will be fair to forestall any impending crisis in the Niger Delta region.