Business
ONELGA Seeks NAOC’s Collaboration On Int’l Market Project
The Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Council chairman, Hon. Raymond Nwokocha, has urged the Nigerian Agip Oil Company to partner with the council in its move to construct the proposed international market project at Omoku town.
The chairman made the call last week when the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) officials paid him a courtesy visit in his office at Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State.
The council boss disclosed that about 140 plots of land has been acquired in Omoku for the construction of the proposed international market, which he said is capital intensive and need to be supported by multi-national corporations the called on Agip to partner with the council in the development of the area as a host community, saying that the duty of government is to protect the lives and property of the people and provide enabling environment for the smooth operation of the oil business in the area.
In his remarks, the Public Relations, Community and Government Liaison Manager, NAOC, Prince Nwachukwu Obi, explained that Agip operation cut across over 300 communities with government controlling 60 per cent of the proceeds, yet the burden of employment rest on Agip alone, saying that the company cannot afford to accommodate everybody, rather than few the company can contend with.
He urged the council to initiate project ideas that could create jobs for the youths, assuring that he would contact Obiebe location on creation of jobs for youths in the area.
Prince Obi, however, noted that the aim of the visit is to cement the relationship and consolidate on the existing relationship. He commended the chairman for providing security in the area, but regretted that Agip facilities are vandalized by criminals who area perfect on the act of bunkering, stressing that both the council and Agip should form a synergy to sensitize the people and discourage from the act.
He maintained that it is only government that has the machinery to combat the act due to highly placed individuals involved.