Umutu: Oil and Gas bearing communities in Delta State have been called to work closely with the state government as partners in development to ensure that government policies are carried out in their areas.
The Executive Director, Social Services Development, on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Hon Ochor Chris Ochor made the call when he granted audience to the members of the Oil and Gas Management Committee, (OGMC), from Ebedei and Akoku in Ukwuani LGA of Delta State.
The Executive Director who was responding to the demands of the community representatives on the needs for proper Environmental Impact Assessment, (EIA) from the oil companies operating in the area, the frosty relationship between the Ukwuani HOSTCOM and the OGMC, the need to site and build projects that are people oriented, and employment of graduates from the oil and gas communities by DESOPADEC, said that the oil and gas management committees are vital to ensure that companies operates effortlessly in the communities, and also work with the HOSTCOM, since the latter is the official recognised body by the DESOPADEC law.
He called on the members to liaise with the Executive of the HOSTCOM so that the present factions existing in the state will be harmonised as directed by the court and the state government.
On projects initiation and execution, Hon Ochor, said the present board has a policy of Bottom-Up policy, where the people are fully involved in projects initiation, and said one of the actions of the board since inception was to complete projects that are 90 percent completed and commission such projects, most especially when such projects are of community need, instead of initiating new ones.
Hon Ochor while promising to present their demands to the authourity, reminded them that DESOPADEC as a government agency will develop the areas based on availability of funds, and with the help of the OGMC in checkmating violence activities in their areas.
Earlier, the spokesman of the OGMC, Mr Solomon Osakwe said that they decided to initiate the meeting to seek ways on how some of the issues presented can be resolved amicably, and to join the government to develop the state through dialogue.
