Delta Govt Appeals to SPDC to Return Administrative Office to State

By Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Delta State Government has called on the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to fully return its administrative and oil mining operations to the state.

The state Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mr. Mofe Pirah, who made the appeal at the award ceremony of graduates of the 2018 SPDC Joint Venture Livewire Programme for Escravos-Otumara Women Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, noted that the company’s relocation from the state some years back had drastically affected the economic sector of the state.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Director of Local Content, Mr. Avwenaghagha Aweka, emphasised that their return would boost the state revenue, just as he added that there are more participants to be accommodated in the Livewire programme.

According to him, “We want SPDC to come back to Delta State. Their return will lighten up the state and increase revenue. SPDC please do not take only the gold, but join us to share in the carcass. We also need more beneficiaries in the SPDC Livewire programme.”

The General Manager, External Relations of SPDC, Mr. Igo Weli, represented by the Social Investment Manager, Emmanuel Ekpeyong, disclosed that over 6,000 persons in the Niger Delta area have benefited from the programme.

According to him, the programme offers youths of the oil region opportunities to maximise their potential both locally and internationally.

“The programme brings beneficiaries into the league of thousands of young entrepreneurs all over the world to compete for the Global Shell Livewire Top Ten Innovators Award which comes with huge benefits and rewards,” Weli stated.

Congratulating the 12 participants, who received a N200,000 grant, the general manager expressed hope that their first step to self-development and  skills’ optimisation would be a long and fulfilling one.

A 2013 beneficiary of the programme, , Managing Director of Dumville Global Ventures and Producer of Dumebi Special Chin-chin, Benedicta Salubi, recalled the benefits of the training as well as advised the graduates to be prudent and always communicate their progress to their benefactors.