Senate rejects motion seeking to recognise Kogi as an oil-producing state

The senate has rejected a motion seeking to recognise Kogi as an oil-producing state.

Issac Alfa, senator representing Kogi east, sponsored the motion.

While moving the motion on the floor of the senate on Wednesday, Alfa argued that of the four states that constitute OPL 915, Kogi was producing the most crude oil.

The lawmaker said oil wells three and four are located at Ibaji in Kogi.

“Orient Petroleum Resources PLC has been taking Crude Oil from OPL 915 since 2012 till date and the percentages of crude oil in the OPL 915 among the three contesting states are as follows: Kogi State-53%, Anambra-23%, Enugu-17% and Edo- 7%,” he said.

“There has been no drilling activity from the OPL 916 which jointly belongs to Kogi, Anambra and Delta states while Orient Petroleum has fully drilled 4 oil wells at OPL 915 (wells 1, 2, 3, and 4) with wells 3 and 4 incontrovertibly located in Ibaji in Kogi state accounting for 53% of the crude oil.”

Contributing to the debate, Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, said Alfa should “humbly” withdraw the motion.

“He should have met with Senator Dino Melaye on the rules and business for proper guidance. We have enough work in the parliament,” Ekweremadu said.

Chukwuka Utazi, senator representing Enugu north, said there is no need dissipating energy on the matter as it is already before the committee on upstream.

“I understand he wants to show people that he is working at home. The committee should finish and submit the report,” he said.

“I am of the opinion that the motion brought stepped down so we don’t have more trouble we already have enough trouble and wait for the committee.”

The motion was rejected when it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Bukola Saraki.