By Albert OGRAKA –Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):

The Managing Director/CEO of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh (FCNA,CrFA) has put measures in place to engage oil and gas prospecting companies operating within the Commission’s mandate areas to enhance the growth of the host communities in the state.

Bashorun Askia, who was on a business development tour of the corporate head offices of major oil and gas prospecting companies operating in the mandate area of the Commission, revealed that DESOPADEC spend nearly N500million annually to minimize theft, vandalism and youth restiveness in oil bearing communities in the state in the past 10 years.

The MD/CEO Bashorun Askia Ogieh stated this when the management of SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company, led by Mr. Austin Avuru played host to him and other executive members of the Board on Thursday in Warri.

He therefore said that DESOPADEC intends to collaborate with SEPLAT in the training of youths through skills acquisition schemes and scholarships, which has been borne by the Commission since its establishment.

“Maintaining security in our oil bearing communities will no doubt make operations seamless and bring on rippling positive effects in the mandate areas”, Bashorun Askia also noted.

Responding, Mr. Avuru, who assured of the possibility of collaborating with DESOPADEC, said that SEPLAT which has been engaging with host communities communities through scholarships, skills acquisitions and health programs will expand in the areas of security and community development in the intended collaboration.