The host communities of Halkin E&P OML 46 Atala, Azagbene in Ekeremor local government area and Ezetu in Southern Ijaw local government area, both in Bayelsa State, have commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for its implementation of the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The commendation by the communities in the oil-rich state was in response to the recent judgment of the Federal Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt reaffirming Halkin Exploration and Production Limited as the legal owner and operator of the Atala Marginal Oil Filed (OML 46).
A three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Ibrahim Sirajo JCA, alongside Justice I.M. Sanni JCA and Justice Elejo Eneche JCA, had dismissed an appeal brought by Bayelsa Oil Company Limited, describing it as unmeritorious, and awarded the cost of N1 million against the appellant, and in favour of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants.
Reacting to the judgment, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Azagbene and Ezetu Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), Idani Ebibomene, said that Halkin E&P had done very well for the communities. He said that since the company began operations in the area, the communities have witnessed development like never before, adding that this can be traced to the comprehensive implementation of the PIA by the NUPRC.
