Delta: Stakeholders Sue For Peace In Oil Producing Areas

Stakeholders, Academia, Investors have stressed the need for a peaceful environment in the oil producing areas to ensure the growth and economic development in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) mandate areas.

They maintained that a peaceful and conducive environment will attract investors and engender cultural harmony amongst the various ethnic groups, hosts to the oil and gas sector.

The stakeholders made their positions known over the weekend during a peace concert and end of year party organized by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Indigenous Contractors Forum held in Warri.

Various speakers harped on the need for tolerance, innovation, peaceful coexistence and strategic use of technology for sustainable development in the oil producing communities in the state.

One of the key speakers, Dr. Alfred Mulade, former Registrar, Nugerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, urged investors, particularly the Indigenous Contractors to leverage on the use of modern technology in their activities so as to improve their developmental input to the society.

"The desopadec indigenous contractors forum should partner with technological bodies to sustain their field. Don't only look at contracts from desopadec, it will not be enough. So you should tap what opportunities lies ahead in the technological sector", he added.

Another speaker, Professor Sunny Awhefeada from Delta State University (DELSU) Abraka stressed the need for cultural harmony amongst the various ethnic groups in the state.

He maintained that it is only when there is harmony amongst the Urhobos, Itsekiris, Ijaws and other ethnic groups that development can come to the desopadec mandate areas.

Other lecturers also harped on the need for peaceful coexistence among all the various ethnic groups as well as training and retraining for members of the forum.

Chairman of DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum, Engr. Ogie Samson said the concert was put in place as part of initiatives to foster unity and development across the interventionist's mandate areas.

He described the peace concert as a timely initiative aimed at strengthening unity, encouraging dialogue and fostering a peaceful environment conducive to economic growth and sustainable development in all oil producing areas of Delta State.

Secretary of DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum, Prince Ebigbagha Charles commended the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for the release of funds DESOPADEC to offset debt arrears owed contractors.

High point of the event was cultural dances from Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw and Kwale groups as well as presentation of awards to the Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Chief Festus Ochornogho, the Executive Director Finance and Administration in DESOPADEC, Chief Oghenekome Okpobor and the Secretary of the forum, Prince Ebigbagha Charles.

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