The Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside has appealed to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) insisting the oil company must not relocate its corporate headquarters from Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The NIMASA boss appeal comes as the Rivers State Government on Wednesday, through its Attorney-General, Emmanuel Aguma petitioned the Senate over the “planned relocation” of SPDC headquarters from Port Harcourt to Lagos state.
Speaking on the issue, Peterside stated that if the petition of Rivers State Government against Shell is true, then it portends grave consequences for the State, stressing that “it took political brinksmanship to bring the SPDC headquarters to Rivers State”.
The 2015 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state admonished the Anglo-Dutch oil giant to have a rethink about the planned relocation of its head office to Lagos, stating that the federal government was making concerted efforts to tame insecurity in the State.
Meanwhile, Peterside disclosed that he would join hands with relevant stakeholders within and outside Rivers State to put pressure on Shell not to move its headquarters to Lagos. He also condemned the utterances and actions of the State governor, Nyesom Wike, stressing that the State governor is chasing away investors by his words and actions.
“While we condemn the utterances and actions of the governor that are driving companies away from the state, we will do everything we can to promote security and safe haven for investors,” he said.
“My appeal to the governor is that he should settle down to govern and behave responsibly,” he added.
Peterside said the federal government has already signed an agreement with Italian firm, Eni to refurbish the Port Harcourt Refinery, and that the Lagos-Calabar rail line will soon come on stream.
“We need all the investments we can get so our state can develop,” said.