BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has enjoined International Oil Companies to expedite action towards stoppage of gas flaring in the country.
Dr. Ogbuku who made the call during s courtesy call on him by a delegation from TOTAL Energies at NDDC Headquarters in Port Harcourt Rivers State, regretted the damage gas flaring has done to the environment.
The Managing Director noted that some of the ecological challenges facing the region may be traceable to oil exploration and production.
According to the MD, there is need to work together to enhance development in the rural communities to provide enabling environment for oil production.
The Chief Executive Officer who told the delegation that NDDC was ready to partner willing stakeholders, insisted that through partnership, project abandonment would reduce.
The Managing Director who asked them to partner the commission in capacity building for youths and empowerment for women, advised the company to leverage on the data base generated through NDDC’s empowerment Initiative, tagged PROJECT HOPE, for seamless selection of youths for training.
In a presentation, Executive Director Joint Ventures Assets, JVA, Mr. Obi Imemba who pledged that TOTAL was ready to synergise with NDDC in development of the region, stated that they were focused in ensuring the elimination of environmental pollution.
Mr. Imemba explained that the company was determined to invest in projects that would create employment and capacity building for the people.
The Executive Director Joint Ventures Assets observed that there are NDDC projects in the company’s operation areas yet to be completed.
