The Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Rivers State, Oliver Wolugbom has urged multinational companies operating in the state to live up to their corporate social responsibilities by promoting peace and development in their host communities.
The NOA Director gave the urge while speaking with The Tide in an interview in his office in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
He pointed out that the multinational companies, as corporate citizens, owe it as a responsibility to play active role in the promotion of security in the area.
Wolugbom frowned at what he considered as the “indifference and non challant attitude of most of the oil companies” towards the development of their host communities.
Apart from their business concerns, he said the companies should ensure that they improve on the community relations policies and implement the agreements signed with their host communities.
The NOA boss also called on the multinationals to ensure that youths employment is given priority attention to avoid the incessant conflict that arise between the corporate partners as a result of breach of corporate agreements.
Wolugbom who emphasised the need for peace and security in Rivers State also stated that issues of security should not be left in the hands of government alone, but should be addressed through the collective effort of the stakeholders.
“It is regrettable that issues of security are mostly left in the hands of government, this is totally wrong, Rivers State is a state that plays host to myriads of multinational companies, who prospect for the economic fortune in the state, these companies must show concern in the security of the state, this is a major part of their corporate social responsibilities, as they cannot operate when there is insecurity in the area.”
The NOA Director also cautioned politicians against heating up the polity in Rivers State, noting that such extremist approach to politics has given a bad publicity to Rivers State, in the global scene.
“Issues of election should not be treated as a do-or-die affair; politicians should stop embarrassing Rivers people by causing crisis in the state, they must understand that the people they are fighting to rule are not fools.”