Posts under ‘Zik Gbemre’

-By Zik Gbemre

RENEWED SHELL DIVESTMENT OF ONSHORE ASSETS: NOTHING TO CHEER ABOUT

• Insecurity is the single challenge pushing Shell and other multinationals out of the dreadful Nigerian investment climate.
• It’s hypocritical of the President and Governors of the Niger Delta to go about the world begging for foreign investors when those already established are exiting the country.
• Even for a developed economy like Russia, Putin had to step in to restrain Shell’s threat to leave the disunited Soviet Union at war with breakaway nations.

Insecurity was the biggest challenge that forced Shell to start divesting its onshore assets in the Niger-Delta, starting with stakes in Delta state in 1999.

Due to large scale youth violence encouraged by Chief James Ibori, tribal wars, ceaseless oil theft and communal disturbances, climaxing in a deliberate attempt by Governor Ibori successor cousin, Emmanuel Uduaghan’s desperation to buy some of the key assets provided the impetus for Shell’s gradual exit from Delta. read more

SHELL ASSETS DIVESTMENT IN THE NIGER DELTA: THE WHOLE TRUTH FROM AN INSIDER’S VIEW

By Zik Gbemre

• I am vindicated by the unbiased account expressed by a former Shell General Manager on why the oil major left Delta state.
• Until we situate the blame in all honesty and amend our ways, we will remain stagnated as a state and in the south of the Niger Delta at large.

When stakeholders often rationalise where to situate the blame over the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) unforgettable divestment of its key assets in Delta state which drastically shattered the state’s economy, I tell people not to look too far to find the key actors who forced that situation.

People may blame Shell, but Shell wasn’t the problem. Even if Shell genuinely intended to leave Delta, it never meant to leave the way it did. The greedy, thieving PDP hegemony of government over the state gave much recognition to violent youths above the law-abiding from the greed of James Ibori to the insensitivity of his successor cousin forced the Shell exit. read more

Contracts are the legal instruments that regulate the behaviour of individuals and parties in the corporate world. Developed societies have very high regard for contracts because it builds trust, makes for ease of doing business and reduce risks involved with investments.

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is the pioneer leader of the Petroleum industry in Nigeria.

Shell is not only the leading energy company in Nigeria, the company is also a global brand with a presence in the most advanced economies in the world. Shell ought to know better about the sacrality of the contractual agreement and the imperativeness of their demands on implicated parties. read more

From an email sent to John Donovan and Shell CEO Ben van Beurden: 27 Sept 2021

ON THE PRODUCTION OF OVER 6,000 ITEMS/PRODUCTS FROM NATURAL PETROLEUM RESOURCES

By Zik Gbemre

• Why is the Nigerian government only thinking of and focusing on “quick returns” derived from the export of natural gas and crude oil without considering investing in the production of these other commodities/items that can be derived from these natural petroleum resources? 
• Aside from the economic benefits that can be derived from the exports of these finished products/commodities to other foreign countries from Nigeria, the enormous job opportunities this would bring about will greatly reduce the unemployment problems in the country. 
• If over 6,000 commodities/items that can be derived from natural gas and crude oil are produced locally in Nigeria in high quality obtainable in developed countries, we are sure that nobody in Nigeria will continue to patronize foreign-made goods. 

If over 6000 items/products can be derived/gotten from natural gas and crude oil, which Nigeria is naturally endured well-enough with, how come the Nigerian governments over the years, have not thought it necessary to massively invest in this area so as to greatly improve on the nation’s economy, and the same time provide millions of job opportunities for the Nigerian youths? Why is the Nigerian Government only thinking and focusing on the “quick returns” derived from the export of natural gas and crude oil, without any consideration to invest heavily in the production of these other products/items that can be derived from these natural resources? read more

-By Zik Gbemre  

OIL DEGRADATION/POLLUTION OF NIGER-DELTA CREEKS/LANDS: A SHARED BLAME 

• Most pipeline vandalism in recent times are third party induced for various unlawful gains 
• The increasing crime now a shared evil involving host communities, service contractors and some oil companies workers. 
• The polluted communities endangering lives and livelihoods of generations unborn 

It is very uncommon to experience crude oil/condensate spillages caused by equipment failure on the vast pipelines constructed by the Federal Government of Nigeria through supervisory NNPC/NPDC and operating oil partners to transport crude oil and associated product across the operating environment.

But no doubt, a significant proportion of crude oil/condensate spills that have become almost a daily experience, threatening health and livelihoods, in massive pollution, particularly across the Niger-Delta states are third party induced for various unlawful self-enrichment. read more

EMAIL ABOUT OIL SECTOR CORRUCTION IN NIGERIA SENT TO SHELL CEO MR BEN VAN BEURDEN, 25 JUNE 2021

-By Zik Gbemre  

WITH THE LEVEL OF CORRUPTION STILL PERVADING THE OIL SECTOR, NIGERIAN POLITICIANS HAVE STILL NOT LEARNT THE VANITY OF MATERIAL POSSESSION – THE NEED FOR THEM TO HAVE A RETHINK, AND FOR ANTI-GRAFT AGENCIES TO TAKE ACTION  

• The mind-boggling allegation of high-profile corruption in the sale of 57 marginal fields involving the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva; Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura; Sarki Auwalu; Sabiu Yusuf (aka Tunde); Sarki Abba and others, should be thoroughly investigated by anti-graft agencies… 
• It is sad how many people have made that piece of paper called money, to become their masters, and they the slaves of it… 
• The sacred values like hard work, diligence, honesty and integrity that once held our society together, have all been replaced… Leaving our societies decaying daily without us even realizing it… 

For as long as I can remember, the subject of high-profile corruption amongst Nigeria’s political class, is one that has continued to get worse, despite all the so-called fight against corruption by the past and present Governments. And it is one problem that has continued to deprive the majority of the Nigerian populace from having access to the dividends of democracy, and has kept the nation perpetually underdeveloped, while those in the political space have continued to feed fat to the detriment of all. read more

17 June 2021

Sir. Ben van Beurden,
Chief Executive Officer (CEO),
Royal Dutch Shell,
Shell Headquarters,
Carel Van Bylandtaan 16,
2596 HR, The Hague,
P.O. Box 162, 2501AN,
The Netherlands.

Dear Sir,  

THE ROYAL DUTCH SHELL SHOULD BE WARNED NOT TO DIVEST OML 25 IN THE NIGER DELTA AREA OF NIGERIA, TO AVOID DENTING ITS RESPECTED PUBLIC IMAGE AS A RESULT OF UNRESOLVED LEGACY/FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES 

With reliable news that The Royal Dutch Shell and its Operators in Nigeria, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), are in the process of divesting/selling its Oil Mining Lease 25 (OML 25) in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, we consider it necessary to alert and warn the Leaders of Royal Dutch Shell/SPDC to desist from carrying out such plans. read more

EMAIL to Shell CEO Ben Van Beurden from the Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)  

From: Zik Gbemre <nigerdeltazik@hotmail.com>

Subject: ON SHELL REVEALED PLANS TO VACATE NIGER DELTA – THE REAL ISSUES

Date: 1 June 2021 at 11:13:46 BST

To: “ben.vanbeurden@shell.com” <ben.vanbeurden@shell.com>, “vanbeurden@shell.com” <vanbeurden@shell.com>

Cc: “tellshell@shell.com” <tellshell@shell.com>, “tellshell@si.shell.com” <tellshell@si.shell.com>, John Donovan <john@shell2004.com>, “royaldutchshell.shareholders@shell.com” <royaldutchshell.shareholders@shell.com> read more