…promises to assist in the fight against oil theft
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has tasked oil companies to
carry out more developmental projects in their host communities.
Governor Wike gave the charge when he played host to the Country Chairman
and Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria
(SPDC) Mr. Osagie Okunbor and other management staff on Tuesday in
Government House, Port Harcourt.
“You don’t have to do things out of compulsion and out of threat, because
that is not the way it is supposed to be…I think that if we have a
robust relationship, it is important to look inwards and see how you will
be able to solve problems that are not much”to ” Wike noted
The governor stated that giving priority to their corporate social
responsibilities will go a long way in soothing the nerves of people and
at the same time provide conducive environment for them to carry out their
operations.
The governor further challenged the multinational oil firm to include
indigenes in its divesting plans and sale of its onshore wells as Rivers
State has individuals with technical and financial capacities to acquire
some of the oil wells.
In addition, Governor Wike stressed the need for Shell to partner with the
State Government in providing infrastructure,
The State Chief Executive assured his guests that government will provide
the enabling environment by beefing up security to make sure that
everybody doing business in the state are protected, stressing that it
will further encourage investors to come into the state.
Assuring them of efforts to assist the federal government in tackling the
issue of oil theft, Wike disclosed that already plans are on top gear to
deliver the two armoured surveillance helicopters purchased by the state
government, “W e believe that when they come in, Shell will partner with
us to see how those armoured helicopters can be utilized to check oil
theft.”
In his speech, , Shell Managing Director lauded the governor for creating
a conducive environment for the company to do business.
With its headquarters located in the state, Okunbor solicited the
sustenance of a long standing relationship between the company and the
government.
Lamenting the rise in oil theft, he called on the state government to
assist in arresting the menace and also ensure development in communities
of operations.