Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited to distinguish itself from the legacy of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) by operating with greater inclusivity and accountability. The appeal came on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, during a courtesy visit by the energy firm’s management team to the Government House in Yenagoa.
Renaissance Africa Energy, which recently acquired SPDC’s onshore assets, was represented by its Chairman, Mr. Layi Fatona; Managing Director and CEO, Chief Tony Attah; and other top officials.
Governor Diri emphasized the need for a new approach that prioritizes collaboration with host states, highlighting the shortcomings of previous operators. He noted that host communities in the Niger Delta had long felt short-changed by SPDC, whose operations, he said, often excluded the communities and their state governments from equitable benefits.
“When we heard that SPDC had divested, we advised the incoming company to carry host states along,” Diri said. “Part of the issues we had with the former operators was that they were seen more like buccaneers—extracting from the communities and giving nothing meaningful in return.”
The governor reiterated his longstanding call for host states to have an ownership stake in oil operations, arguing that shared interests would lead to better protection and stewardship of the assets.
“There’s nothing wrong if states become co-owners, even with a small percentage. It gives us a sense of responsibility. If we are stakeholders, we’ll protect the assets more—just as we’ve done with the 13% derivation,” he added, urging Renaissance Energy to explore ways to accommodate Bayelsa’s interest.
Governor Diri also expressed concerns about the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), criticizing the structure that allows oil companies and the federal government to deal directly with host communities while sidelining state and local governments.
“We now receive numerous protests from communities. It’s only when trouble erupts that they remember there’s a state government,” he said. “You have the opportunity to do things differently. Please don’t replicate the exploitative patterns of the past.”
Commending Renaissance Africa Energy for its acquisition, Diri noted the symbolic shift from foreign dominance to more indigenous participation in the sector. However, he was quick to add that inheriting SPDC’s assets also means inheriting its environmental liabilities. He urged the new operators to take responsibility for pollution and environmental degradation in the region.
In response, Renaissance Africa Energy Chairman, Mr. Layi Fatona, explained that the team was in Bayelsa to formally introduce the company and its vision following the asset acquisition. He pledged the company’s commitment to supporting Bayelsa’s development goals, particularly under the government’s ASSURED Prosperity Agenda, with a focus on energy security.
Chief Tony Attah, the Managing Director and CEO, acknowledged Bayelsa’s strategic importance and the state’s past cooperation with Shell. He praised Governor Diri’s leadership and assured him of the company’s intention to partner with the state to harness its vast gas resources.
“Our goal is to become Africa’s leader in energy security and drive industrialization through domestic gas utilization,” Attah said. “Bayelsa holds tremendous potential in this regard, and we’re here to build a future that benefits both the state and the country.”
