Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has charged Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to pay more attention to their host communities to ensure a healthy relationship is sustained.
The Governor who stated this when a delegation of SPDC called on him at Government House Umuahia, said oil producing communities in Abia have not felt the impact of SPDC and counterpart doing business in the State adding that there is need to create a good relationship with the host communities to foster development.
He noted with displeasure that Abia Youths especially natives of the oil producing communities were not part of the federal government amnesty programmes in collaboration with the NDDC despite not been involved in the pipeline vandalism and related vices, pointing out that he made oil and Gas part of the five pillar agenda of his administration to encourage industrialization and SME development in Abia to tackle the menace of unemployment among the youths.
While stressing the importance of power generation in the Enyimba city for SMEs to thrive, he encouraged the SPDC to go on with its concept of establishing a gas stream in Aba stating that the project would enhance industrialization and boost economic growth in the State.
Gover Ikpeazu further said that the exportation of over two million pairs of made in Aba shoes outside Nigeria would be frustrating without steady power supply and noted that beyond power generation, that his administration is also committed to providing adequate security in Abia to attract investors in the commercial nerve centre.
Earlier, the Leader of the delegation, Mr. Ed Ubong, had thanked the governor for establishing a quality road infrastructure in Abia State especially at Aba and explained that deplorable roads had been a discouraging factor to their investment in the State.
He disclosed that they came to renew and consolidate their long existing relationship with Abia State and to inform the governor of their intention to build a gas stream around the key indystrial areas in Aba.
The SPDC Officer, revealed that the proposed gas stream line would be set up at Ogbor Hill,Osisioma and Ariaria market areas and will make the city the largest industrial hub in the East adding that about 10km construction site of the gas line would be cited within Osisioma axis to enable them provide power around Ariaria market and its environs.
Ubong, however, stated that SPDC had not done enough in Abia in terms of developmental contributions but assured that their visit would foster a new beginning for the people of the State.
He pledged to work with the Ikpeazu led administration to bringing the needed development in Abia State.
