Kidnapping: Eni’s Scaroni Meets Obasanjo, Raises Security
 Concerns
By Hector Igbikiowubo
 3rd JAN 2007

Italian oil giant Eni,  parent company of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has raised security concerns regarding the welfare of its staff in the Niger Delta,  while also commiserating with the Federal Government over the recent petroleum pipeline explosion which claimed the lives of 238 people in Lagos.

It was gathered that Mr. Paolo Scaroni, Chief Executive Officer of Eni raised the issue of security concerns during a meeting he had with President Olusegun Obasanjo in Lagos on Wednesday.

President Obasanjo in his response assured Eni’s boss of government’s commitment to continue negotiations with the group holding the workers, adding that he was deeply convinced of an imminent positive resolution of the case.

A statement from the management of confirmed the meeting, adding that the meeting dwelled extensively on the kidnapping of the four people working for the company at the Brass Terminal on December 7 this year.

Scaroni thanked the federal and state governments for proceeding with the negotiations for the release of the oil workers without resorting to the use of force through military intervention. Scaroni and President Obasanjo also discussed the establishment of an industrial plant for hydrocarbon extraction as well as expansion and construction of power plants in the country. President Obasanjo also thanked Italy’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Eni for the support given to the Nigerian Authorities on the events concerning the abducted workers. Scaroni expressed his deepest condolences for the pipeline fire tragedy that occurred in Lagos and offered to the Nigerian President all of Eni’s sympathy while confirming the company’s availability to arrange medical care and social support for the victims and communities hit by the tragedy. President Obasanjo, who was devastated by the accident, thanked Eni’s availability and sensitivity shown towards Nigerian people in this tragic situation.

Scaroni who was invited by President Obasanjo, visited people hurt by the incident in the Lagos University Hospital and offered the Medical Director of the hospital Femi Olugbile, Eni’s availability to provide medical assistance and treatment of the most difficult cases.

Eni is activating its own medical structures both in Nigeria and Italy to effectively support the situation. It was disclosed that the Head of Italian medical staff in Nigeria is expected to reach the Lagos University Hospital to coordinate local doctors, while an EniMed medical team will shortly leave Italy to reach Lagos with equipments and medicines and join local medical staff to bring cures to people hurt by the explosion.
It would be recalled that a pipeline explosion occurred in Lagos, Tuesday, following the activities of vandals on a petroleum products pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The explosion occurred in Awori, Abule Egba, a Lagos suburb, precipitating the spectre of increased petroleum products scarcity within Lagos and environs. At the time of filling this report, 13 of the 70 people admitted for varying degrees of burns had died.

Back to Top
Post Your Feedback