Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), on Wednesday appealed for more financial support from oil companies operating in the region.
A statement issued by the commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, in Port Harcourt, said that Semenitari made the call when Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) visited the commission.
The statement quoted Semenitari as requesting oil companies in the area to improve on their contributions to enable the commission fast-track development of the region.
“OPTS must provide support by pulling resources together so that NDDC can make impact and deliver on projects that would touch the lives of people in communities.
“We support OPTS leaders to immediately re-activate meeting of Chief Executive Officers of the group to discuss issues affecting the region by ensuring that the region becomes functional for all stakeholders.
“In all activities in 2016, we promote stronger partnership to enable us provide quality service delivery to the people.
“We are concluding construction work on Ogbia-Nembe road that would be extended to Brass.
“This means that we must begin talk early and also talk to several communities to get their support, while pulling resources together,” the statement quoted Semenitari as saying.
She said that the Nembe-Brass section of the road project would be a tripartite arrangement that would involve Agip and the Bayelsa Government.
She said that Agip would provide support for the project since it operated largely on the Nembe-Brass axis.
According to her, we will also have meetings with the Bayelsa Government to make contributions even if they don’t put money on the table.
“If we pull our resources together, it will be a win-win situation for all parties which would impact positively on the lives of people in the communities,” she said.
Semenitari said that clean-up of oil spills in Ogoni area of Rivers was an issue that stakeholders must show concern and take greater responsibility.
She maintained that oil companies must show more commitment to finding greener ways of doing business in the region.
The statement also quoted, Mr Ibitoye Abosede, Chairman of NDDC/OPTS Working Level Committee, as assuring that the group would mobilise resources and create a platform that would prosper the region.
He promised that OPTS would embark on joint inspection of projects executed by NDDC and the multinationals.
Abosede, who is also NDDC Director and Head of Community and Rural Development unit, assured that the partnership would strive to reduce youth restiveness, vandalism and conflict in the region.
