Bayelsa Government and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) have disagreed on the building of a Liquefied Natural Gas Plant in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Following the dispute, the government sealed off the premises of Gbaran Ubie facility operated by SPDC.
A statement on Tuesday by Chief Boro Ige-Edaba, the Executive Secretary of Bayelsa Physical Planning and Development Board (BSPPDB), said the sealing of the site followed an eviction order by the State High Court in Yenagoa.
The eviction order had granted the government leave to effect the eviction of SPDC and all occupants of the premises to enable the board to conduct environmental, health, technical, integrity and safety checks on the facility.
The facility was said to have been built without a Development Permit as required by Law.
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 Gbaran Ubie facility was developed by Shell on about two million square metres in Bayelsa without a Development Permit.
“This is contrary to the provisions of the law and commissioned in 2010, despite subsisting stop-work order and notice to discontinue the development.
“The Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Law, 2015, requires that all developers of structures built without obtaining a development permit under previous planning laws applicable in the state.
“Despite all notices served on Shell since the commencement of the law in 2015, the company neglected, refused and failed to comply with the provisions and requirements of the law and regulations made pursuant to the law, “ Ige-Edaba said.
The court had also ordered that all the occupants of the Gbaran Ubie facility in Bayelsa to stay and remain evicted until the company complies with all the requirements of the Bayelsa Physical Planning and Development Law 2015.
According to Ige-Edaba, BSPPDB is statutorily empowered to provide effective physical planning, development control and framework for infrastructural development in the state.
When contacted, SPDC spokesperson Joseph Obari said that the oil firm would not join issues with the Bayelsa State Government.
