‘Oil Firms Should Build Industries To Create Jobs’

Oil prospecting firms in the Niger Delta Region have been urged to site industries in their areas of operation as a source of employment for youths of oil-bearing communities.

The chairman of Obagi Youths Front, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Comrade Nnadi Gospel made the call recently while speaking to newsmen at Obagi town.

He said that poverty was prevailing in oil-bearing areas due to high rate of unemployment of qualified youths and stressed the need to reverse the trend.

Comrade Nnadi who was sworn-in recently as the chairman of the newly reconstituted Obagi Youth Front said that his executive was disposed to pursue sustainable development in the area.

He used the opportunity to express satisfaction with TotalFina Elf for the road network  constructed in Obagi community, pointing  out that the company had been host-community-friendly over the years.

The youth leader  explained that the multinational firm had built a hospital, schools and awarded scholarships to  deserving youths of the area thereby enhancing their educational standards.

Comrade Nnadi also thanked the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) for deeming it expedient to construct a health centre and a multi- purpose hall for Obagi community, saying that the area would be transformed if the trend continued.

The  youth leader however, regretted that despite the fact that Obagi is an oil and gas producing community, there is no government presence in the area and  urged the Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi-led   administration  to build a market and a modern primary school in Obagi town.

He expressed optimism that such laudable projects would go a long way to give the people a sense of belonging and as well print the governor’s name in the sands of time.

Sunny Ajie