Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has called on the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to become a pacesetter by first relocating its headquarters to the Niger Delta region.
Dickson also appealed to SPDC to partner with his administration in delivering critical projects, such as the industrial park, power projects and construction of major roads in the state.
The governor, who spoke at the weekend when the Managing Director of the SPDC and Country Chairman of Shell Companies, Mr. Osagie Okunbor paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa, insisted that Shell should lead the way.
According to the governor, being the first company to exploit oil resources in the region, Shell should should do the needful by bringing its corporate headquarters to the region.
He said his government was ready to provide land to enable them carry out their operations.
Dickson pointed out that, the huge reserves of gas in Bayelsa placed the state in a vantage position to generate enough power to drive the industrialization agenda of the state and the country.
He also stressed the need for SPDC to mobilize other oil companies to collaborate with the state government to ensure the successful establishment of the Brass LNG and fertilizer plant projects, to create job opportunities and stimulate the local economy.
On road construction, Dickson, who lauded SPDC and the NDDC for partnering to build the Ogbia-Nembe road, however, expressed the state government’s preparedness to collaborate with them to extend the road to Brass.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of SPDC, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, commended the restoration government’s development strides.
He expressed his company’s willingness to consolidate on the infrastructure base and economic advancement of the state.
Okunbor, particularly thanked Dickson, saying his leadership style had gone a long way in providing enabling environment for oil companies to operate without major disruptions in the state.
THE NATION
