Shell Disbursed N1.88bn Since 2006 In GMoU Funding In Delta

Shell Petroleum and Development Company, (SPDC) says it has disbursed a total of N1.88billion in Delta state since it started the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) funding of projects in the state.

SPDC’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr. Igo Weli stated this on Thursday while presenting the latest edition of “Shell in Nigeria: Briefing Notes” to newsmen at Keyroitt Hotel, Warri, the commercial nerve center of the state.

According to Mr. Weli, who was represented by Evan Krukrubo, flanked by other Shell officials, the GMoU funding covers three clusters currently active in the state since the inception of the concept in 2006.

Reiterating that SPDC is still active in Delta state, Weli disclosed that the Cluster Development Boards (CDBs), like their counterparts in other part of the Niger Delta region, are implementing health and educational projects among others.

He said that under the terms of the GMoU, the SPDC JV provides secure five -years funding for communities to implement development projects of their choice which are managed by the CDBs under the guidance of mentoring NGOs.

As part of the educational projects, SPDC operated joint venture had recently established a Professorial Chair at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), near Warri.

This, was in addition to the donation of N600 million facilities to five schools under the Youths Sports and Athletics Development Project (YSADP), to marked Nigeria’s centenary anniversary.

“These projects show our continuous presence and interest in the development of Delta state”, Weli said adding that the various projects being undertaken by SPDC shows the oil firm is still active in the social economic development of the state.

He said that SPDC divested from a number of assets in Delta state in line with its business strategy, and in support of participation of more Nigeria companies in oil and gas industry.

Weli said that that divestment programme doesn’t mean SPDC left the state, saying, we are still active in the state”.

According to him, SPDC still operates its Forcados Terminal, Flow stations spread in several fields like the Ogulagha, Otunana, Yokri, Escravos, gas plants as well as network of pipelines.

Meanwhile, in the briefing notes, Shell disclosed that $23 billion(N5.31 trillion) was paid to the federal government between 2013-2017.

It said $1.9 billion paid to the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) since inception in 2002 while the oil bearing communities social investment funds for community-driven projects under the Global Memorandum of Understanding(GMoU) was $228 million (N41.10billion).

The company stated that 94 per cent of Shell contracts was awarded to Nigeria companies in 2017 while 631,000 barrels of oil equivalent per average daily production by Shell-operated ventures in Nigeria in 2017.

Story Julius Eras-Olabowu