ABUJA, Aug 19 (Reuters) - International oil companies
operating in Nigeria owe $4 billion to an agency responsible for
fostering development in the Niger Delta, the impoverished
wetlands region where much of the industry is located, a
minister said on Thursday.
Tayo Alasoadura, minister of state for Niger Delta Affairs,
said the debt to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
had been accumulating over a long period of time, but did not
name specific companies.
"International oil companies are expected to pay 3% of their
annual budget to NDDC as their major income but they have been
defaulting for a long period of time," Alasoadura told
reporters.
"Efforts are being made to get the outstanding payments
which is up to $4 billion from them. All of them are owing," he
said.
It was not clear what potential enforcement mechanisms might
be available to the NDDC or the government.
Asked to respond to Alasoadura's remarks, a spokesman for
U.S. major ExxonMobil said: "ExxonMobil complies with all
governmental laws, rules and regulations applicable to its
operations within and outside the United States."
Spokespersons for Anglo-Dutch firm Shell and for Italy's Eni
said they would send responses later, while Chevron did not
immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(Reporting by Felix Onuah and Libby George, writing by Estelle
Shirbon; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)