The minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), Heineken Lokpobiri says Nigeria possess sovereign rights over the oil prospecting licence (OPL) 245 oil block.
Lokpobiri, whilst speaking at a press briefing on July 12, stated that all oil blocks are owned by the federal government.
On July 3, the minister said that Nigeria has resolved all issues pertaining to OPL 245.
Yet, Mohammed Abacha, son of a former head of state, told Lokpobiri take back his claims of resolving the OPL 245 dispute, saying the issue is still in court.
Abacha laid claim to the ownership of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, the company that was initially awarded the OPL in 1998 by his late father, Sani Abacha.
But in his response to the claims, Minister Lokpobiri said the federal government would take all lawful methods to ensure that Nigerians profit from the country’s oil blocks’ availability.
“I don’t want to join issues with the Abacha family, you know, for OPL 245. But as far as I know, every oil block belongs to the federal government of Nigeria. We will give licences to different people to operate,” he said.
“Oil blocks are federation assets, and the federal government will do anything that is legal to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the availability of these oil blocks in this country.
“I don’t want to join issues with the Abacha family, but I can assure you that we are resolving all the issues with OPL 245 in accordance with overriding national strategic interest.
“This matter has lingered on for the past 28 years. And if I were a member of the Abacha family, I would not even raise my head. As Heineken Lokpobiri, I can’t give any Lokpobiri a licence. That in itself is criminal. So if they know what they are doing, they should just keep quiet.”
The minister said Nigeria has laws just like any other country, emphasizing that he would perform his duties concerning the issue.