By Gbenga Abulude
Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has advised the federal government to site the proposed headquarters of the Gas Flare Trust Fund in Urhobo land, in Delta State.
This is contained in a letter signed by the President-General of UPU Worldwide, Olorogun Moses Taiga.
Urhobo Progress Union is the umbrella body of the Urhobo people.
The UPU said, Urhobos are host of some of the largest gas fields in Nigeria, with the Ughelli East and Utorogun Gas fields being the largest gas plant in West Africa. It added that these fields are served by oil flow stations, pumping stations and the gas plants.
“Urhobo ethnic nationality has been a host to major oil and gas assets since the discovery of petroleum in Nigeria producing oil and gas from – Afiesere, Eriemu, Osioka, Evwreni, and Oroni fields (in OML 30); Ughelli, Ughelli East, Utorogu, Effurun, Ward River and Orho lfields(in OML 34), Okwefe, Amukpe, Okporhuru, and Mosogar, Ovhor and Orhogho (in OML 38), Sapele, Ubaleme, Okoporo fields (in OML 41), Matsogo field(in OML 56), Aroh, Okwefe , Deep and Oghareki Fields (in OML 49), and others,” the group stressed.
The UPU further explained its request for locating the Gas Trust Fund in Urhobo land on the fact says, “A cursory look at the Oil and Gas development agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for oil and gas producing areas and imparted communities and locations of their headquarters Commission- Niger Delta Development Commission – Port Harcourt(Rivers); Petroleum Trust Development Fund – Kaduna (Kaduna); Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project – Port Harcourt (Rivers); Nigerian Content Management Board Yenegua (Bayelsa) and National Petroleum Development Company – Benin- City (Edo).”