Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd has warned against sabotage and crude oil theft.
The oil firm gave the warning as three host communities in Delta State – Ogulagha, Iduwini Delta and Iwereland – unveiled their development trusts in Warri, on Thursday.
The Petroleum Industry Act which was signed into law in 2021, established Trusts as the main platform for development of host communities, while their incorporation provided legal backing to attract resources, and channel them to the development of communities.
The Managing Director of Shell and Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr Osagie Okunbor, at the unveiling of the three Delta host communities’ development trusts held at Shell conference centre, Ogonu, urged stakeholders to help ensure hitch-free operations to be able to fully benefit from the new dispensation.
Okunbor, who was represented by the Project Manager, NCDT, Dr. Alice Ajah, noted that, “With the latest unveiling, it means that the PIA is making progress in the Niger Delta, with SPDC, supported by her partners, continuing with its handshake with communities in the region.”
Highlight of the ceremony was the formal unveiling of the Chairmen, Board of Trustees of the three Delta Host Communities Development Trust, Chief Anoruse MacDonald (Ogulagha); Benikurukuru Ibamugha (Iduwini Delta) and Alli Lemmy Omagbitse (Iwereland) respectively.
The Shell Managing Director recalled that similar ceremonies had been held earlier in Rivers and Bayelsa States.
He noted that the train of development would hopefully move from Delta to Imo State as the SPDC JV was working to embed the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act on community development in these four states by incorporating a total of 22 Trasts.
“This unveiling means the PIA is making progress in the Niger Delta, with SPDC, supported by her partners, continuing with its handshake with communities in the Niger Delta,” he stated.
He noted that the PIA provided for amicable resolution of grievances with oil companies, and all stakeholders including the communities are to deploy them as necessary. Also, communities which allowed internal strife and chieftaincy struggles to negatively impact the establishment or operations of Trusts in their areas would be inflicting a lot of self-harm.
