Speaking at a town hall meeting in Uyo, the capital of Akwa-Ibom state, minister of petroleum resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has not allocated a single oil block since he came into office, but when he eventually starts, south-south indigenes will have their share.
While answering question when a Nigerian asked the minister why oil block allocations favoured the north rather than the south-south where most oil blocks are located, Kachikwu said this was not the doing of President Buhari, emphasising that the president would follow due process in allocation of oil blocks when the time comes.
“In terms of the allocation of oil blocks to south-south indigene, since we came into position, the government has not allocated any block of petroleum. The president has not put any emphasis on that at all.
“He said we need to correct the mess before we begin to give advantage. Let me set something very clearly here; just like Udoma, I didn’t know the president before I got appointed here, never met him before, never spoke to him before.
“Recommendations and reputation brought me here. I haven’t been in government before, so I don’t know how it works, but since the day that I resumed, this president has never called me to give me the name of anybody, any Nigerian, north, south, east or west and say to me ‘you need to do some favour.’
“On the contrary, his emphasis is that there should be no favours. Make the right decisions and be able to defend it. On the issue of oil blocks, when the time comes, it will follow very due process.
“I’m one of those who believe there’s a need to see how the south-south and corridors would benefit, because that is part of giving back. I am sure that at the appropriate time those presented to him, he will listen to it.
“He will listen to it subject to the fact that those who have skills and the finances to develop the field will be allowed to develop the fields,” the minister said
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