Bayelsa Govt Seals Agip Facility Over Alleged Safety Checks Violation
Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board, weekend, sealed off a facility owned by Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, in Biseni area of Yenagoa over alleged violation of environmental, health, technical integrity and safety checks required in line with the state Physical Planning and Development Law, 2015.
He said: “The eviction order had granted the government of Bayelsa State power to effect the eviction of Agip and all occupants of the premises to enable the Physical Planning and Development Board to conduct environmental, health, technical integrity, and safety checks at the facility.”
The facility was reportedly built without a building permit as required by the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Law (2015). The court had also directed the Commissioner of Police, the Commander of the Joint Task Force, JTF, and all security agencies to facilitate the enforcement of the eviction.
The owner of the facility was said to have continued work despite a subsisting order and a notice to discontinue drilling on the site .
“The facility violated the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Law of 2015, which requires that all developers of existing property in the state built without obtaining development permits under previous planning laws applicable in the state submit such facilities to scrutiny and validation.’’
The court had also ordered that all the occupants of the facility remain evicted until the company complies with all the requirements of the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Law of 2015.
