HEDA and Civil Society Coalition Demand Full Public Disclosure of OPL 245 Deal
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), in collaboration with a coalition of prominent Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has issued a formal petition urging the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) to ensure the complete public disclosure of all agreements and documentation related to the reported deal on OPL 245. This offshore oil block involves major players Shell, Eni, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Concerns Over Lack of Critical Details in New Agreement
In the petition addressed to NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Musa Sarkin Adar, the coalition expressed deep apprehension regarding recent reports that the Federal Government has finalized a new agreement on the controversial OPL 245 block. While these reports suggest potential economic benefits, the groups highlighted a significant absence of essential information concerning the deal’s structure, fiscal terms, and beneficiaries.
The coalition, which includes Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), BudgIT Foundation, Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), and Social Action Nigeria, emphasized that transparency is not merely optional but a legal and moral imperative. This stance is reinforced by the 2023 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Standard and NEITI’s statutory mandate to foster accountability within Nigeria’s extractive sector.
OPL 245: A Symbol of Decades of Alleged Corruption
In their statement, the organisations underscored that OPL 245 represents more than just an oil block; it is emblematic of nearly three decades of alleged corruption, abuse of office, and opaque transactions. They argued that any new deal involving the same entities must undergo the highest level of public scrutiny to prevent a recurrence of past issues.
The coalition warned that failure to disclose the full details of the agreement would severely undermine public trust and raise serious questions about the integrity of the entire process. They stressed that assertions of transparency by government officials cannot be validated without verifiable public access to the underlying agreements.
Critical Transparency Questions Raised by the Coalition
The petition outlines a series of pressing transparency inquiries that delve into the core of the reported deal. Key concerns include:
- How the OPL 245 block has been divided and which companies now hold rights to its various segments.
- Whether NNPCL has secured back-in rights and the financial commitments made by the Federal Government in this regard.
- What Nigeria’s current equity stake in the asset structure entails.
- Whether Shell and Eni made additional payments under the new arrangement, including specific amounts, terms, and whether these funds were properly remitted into the Federation Account as mandated by law.
Additionally, the coalition questioned the fiscal framework of the deal, particularly in comparison to the widely criticized 2011 agreement, and demanded detailed disclosure of any improvements claimed by government officials. Concerns were also raised about the issuance of new licences reportedly carved out of the block, including their ownership, operational structure, and whether due process was followed in their allocation.
The groups reiterated that full transparency is essential to ensure accountability and prevent further erosion of public confidence in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
