The chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area (AWELGA) Hon Awori Miller, has lauded the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) for being the highest contributor to the revenue generation of the LGA and living up to its  corporate social responsibility to the host communities in the area.

Miller made the commendation on Thursday when Agip’s delegation paid him a courtesy visit in his office at Akinima, headquarters of Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to him, Agip has been the foremost among other oil companies that have taken the wellbeing of the host communities seriously, by providing various rural amenities and infrastructure that are development-oriented.

He appealed that besides providing generating set in the area, that it would serve the people better to hook the area to the national grid power supply, noting that it could be done under partnership with Agip.

He also urged NAOC to support the LGA on human capacity binding, especially on the youth training/skill acquisition with a view to reducing youth restiveness in the area.

The council boss identified illegal bunkering as one of the major challenges facing the council, alleging that there are prominent Nigerians backing the criminal activities and also frustrating the efforts of the LGA towards eradicating economic sabotage.

Miller charged NAOC to put all machinery in place to check the bunkering activities, suggesting that pipelines should be laid 11 feet down the earth, instead of surface piping which is aiding pipeline vandalisation, in the area.

He thanked Agip for contributing immensely to the revenue base of the council.

In his remarks, the Public Relations Community and Government laison Manager of NAOC Prince Nwachukwu Obi, commended the efforts of the AWELGA council chairman and his counterpart in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, in fighting illegal bunkering activities and pipeline vandalisation in their respective LGAs.

The NAOC delegation leader, blamed government for not being proactive in combating the menace, noting that if there is a national approach in tackling the problem, it will be over come. He stressed the need to sensitise the people on the dangers of bunkering to the communities, saying that the effect of the act poses a negative threat to the lives of the people.

He said the visit is aimed at rubbing minds and identifying areas that will enhance mutual benefit as well as cement the existing cordial relationship.

Prince Obi thanked the chairman for providing security and the enabling environment for business to thrive, assuring to co-opt youths in the area to the training at Sogbama in Bayelsa State.

He re-affirmed NAOC’s willingness to continue to live up to their corporate responsibility through sustainable development projects in the host communities.