ASABA/Nigeria: Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed concern over the non-implementation of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by some oil companies operating in the state, as he gave commendation to Energia Oil for keeping to its social responsibilities to their host communities.
The governor expressed the displeasure with the development when he received the Youths of Ndokwa nation in the state led by their President-General, Comrade Anslem Nzete, at Government House, Asaba.
He said that he was disappointed in some of the companies for failing to partner the government to develop host communities in spite of the peace in the communities.
According to Okowa, apart from Energia that has an MOU and has been doing a few things that I have been seeing, the others can hardly keep to their MOU, and it’s not fair.
He assured that he would put pressure on the firms to look into the issue of Okpai road and other infrastructural matters in the area, saying “if we have taken the bridge project which is a major aspect, from them, they should be able to show signs of partnership to take up some other actions.
“If they fail to, then we will also know what to do to put them under pressure,” he said.
On marginal oil fields, the governor stated that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that the people were not short-changed in the process, adding that the state government had written to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to provide it with the current oil quantum of the state, and was awaiting response.
“We know that the current quantum cannot be what it used to be 10 years ago. So, it’s important that we take note of that. I think that the various changes they have been making in the DPR have led to the reason why they have not responded to us,” he said.
The governor said that he was aware that no Ndokwa son had ever been appointed into the board Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board in spite of the area being oil-producing, and promised that the matter would be addressed adding that he has taken note of it.
“I am aware that no son of Ndokwa has been appointed into the NDDC board and I have taken note of that, but there are too many things wrong with the NDDC at the moment. And, that’s why you can now have an Interim Management Committee running the place for such a long time,” he stated.
