Oil protestors claim to hold flow stations

Activists are reported to have taken over several oil installations in Niger Delta area, demanding compensation from the US company Mobil for pollution caused by an oil spill there last year, news organisations reported on Wednesday. The activists claimed they had occupied 13 flow stations operated by other multinationals, Reuters reported, adding that it was unable to confirm the claim. Two multinationals, Royal Dutch/Shell and Agip, both of which operate in the area, said they were not aware that any of their installations had been occupied by protestors, Reuters said. Mobil has already paid out millions of dollars in compensation for the offshore spill in January 1998. It said any claims will have to be properly verified before compensation can be agreed, Reuters reported. Reuters added that the Association of Mobil Spill Affected Communities (AMSAC) which claims to represent 61 communities, threatened to take action against other companies last weekend if Mobil did not pay up. Meanwhile a senior government official said on the BBC that Nigeria's Provisional Ruling Council is considering setting up new local administrations with the aim of easing tension in troubled regions such as the Niger Delta.