OPL 245: It’s Better For You To Keep Quiet…. – Lokpobiri Sends Strong Warning To Abacha’s Family

The minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), Heineken Lokpobiri has sent a warning to the family of former head of state, Sani Abacha over the OPL 245 oil block.

Lokpobiri said that Nigeria has sovereign rights over the oil prospecting licence, (OPL) 245 oil block.

However, Abacha’s son, Mohammed Abacha, urged Lokpobiri to retract his claims of resolving the OPL 245 dispute, saying the matter is still in court.

Abacha laid claim to the ownership of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, the company originally awarded the OPL in 1998 by Sani Abacha, his father.

Responding to the claims at a press briefing, Lokpobiri said the federal government would take all lawful measures to guarantee that Nigerians profit from the country’s oil blocks’ availability.

He insisted that all oil blocks are owned by the federal government.

The minister stated that he has no interest in joining issues with the Abacha family and advised them to keep quiet.

He said “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.

“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.”

Lokpobiri said Nigeria has laws just like any other country, adding that he would carry out his duties concerning the issue.