DTSG seals SPDC for alleged default of ground rent payment

By Dave Okpogadie, Asaba

Delta State Government Committee on Ground Rent has sealed up the gate of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) / Western P Edjeba Agbarha Warri with red colour ribbon over an alleged default on payment of land rent.

Vehicles owned by staff and contractors, as well as visitors, were seen parked at the gate when our correspondent visited the company.

A pedestrian gate was, however, opened at one of the entrances to the company where there were movements of persons.

Efforts to reach out to officials of Delta State Government Committee on Ground Rent and SPDC / Western P Edjeba Agbarha Warri were unsuccessful.

However, copies of the seal of Delta State Government Committee on Ground Rent were pasted on several places on the gate of the company.

The seal, which has the Delta State Government logo boldly printed on it, read thus: ‘Seal by Delta State Government Committee on Ground Rent.’

It also adds: ‘Warning!!! Tempering with the seal will attract penalties’ among others instructions.

The Chairman of Edjeba (host community) Development Committee (EDC) headed by Mr Oscar Tujele spoke to our correspondent on the issue.

He confirmed that the gate of the company was sealed by the said Delta State committee on alleged default on payment of land rent.   He affirmed that the action had been on since Tuesday 20th September, 2022.

Tujele, however, disclosed that officials of the company were in Asaba to resolve the issue with Delta State Government Committee on Ground Rent as at the time of the interaction.