Shell’s MD Recommends Delta C’ttee Against Vandalism As A Model For Oil Producing States

Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Limited, Mr Osagie Okunbor, has recommended the Delta state Government Advocacy Committee Against Vandalism of Oil and Gas Facilities chaired by Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro as a model for other oil producing states.

Okunbor, gave this recommendation after he met with the state Deputy Governor in a closed-door meeting at the weekend where he described the initiative as a model for forging progressive relations between oil companies and oil-bearing communities.

Otuaro had at the weekend conveyed a meeting to appraise the activities of  the Delta State Advocacy Committee and x-ray issues raised by oil-bearing communities at an earlier conference on securing oil facilities in Ogulagha, Delta State.

Addressing newsmen, after leading management staff of SPDC to the meeting at Government House Annexe, Warri, Okunbor, who was represented by Mr Igho Weli, General Manager, External Relations, SPDC, said he was on air in Rivers State, recently, and had to publicly recommend what the Delta State Advocacy Committee was doing as a model for other oil producing states.

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He hinted that the interface between oil communities and oil companies provided by Otuaro’s Advocacy Committee was creating mutual understanding for progress.

“The work of the Delta State Advocacy Committee set up by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is, for me, a model for other states. It is best practice. Other states should do this and solve a lot of problems. The way to go should be discussions for mutual understanding and not mindless bickering or vandalism of pipelines”, he said.

Also in attendance at the meeting for SPDC were Mr Alaye Dokubo, Government Relations Manager, Delta/Bayelsa States, Mr. Evans Krukrubo, Community Relations Manager, Dr (Mrs) Alice Ajeh, Stakeholder Relations Manager, Mr. Tunji Sapara, Government Relations Adviser, Mrs Dorcas Owhorukowho, Government Relations Adviser and Mr Jerry Udjo, Community Interface Manager.

The meeting was also attended by chairman of Delta state Waterways Security Committee, Mr. Boro Opudu, Barr. Bosin Ebikeme, Hon. Kelly Penawou and Hon. David Tonwe and other members of the Advocacy Committee.