President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to take over operation of the entire Oil Mining Lease 11 in Ogoniland from Shell Petroleum Development Company.
The lease in question contains 33 oil and gas fields.
The order, which was signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, comes at the time when residents of Ogoniland have lamented the desecration of their land and water during oil exploration in the area.
The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of NNPC, acknowledged receipt of the letter on March 5, 2019.
NNPC is meant to take over the entire OML 11 from Shell not later than April 30, 2019.
The two firms, NNPC/NPDC, are to write the presidency to confirm assumption of the operatorship by May 2, 2019.
