Okowa receives Chevron chiefs, tasks oil firms on development

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has assured multinational oil corporations operating in Delta State of government determination to provide a peaceful environment for them to thrive.

Okowa, who spoke in Asaba when the Chairman/Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Clay Neff, visited him advised the oil giant and other service companies to engage more people in their areas operation not only on contract jobs but on permanent basis because such a move would go a long way in sealing their relationship with the host communities.

Against the backdrop of youth restiveness in the oil-rich Niger Delta, Okowa emphasised that his administration would ensure a peaceful and conducive working environment.

The governor said that the state government would partner with the oil companies to generate employment for the people. He admitted that it was practically impossible for the multi- national companies to operate successfully in a restive setting, hence the need for the government to provide the enabling environment for peace to thrive.

He said: “It is in our joint interests to get these youths engaged so that your working environment will be conducive. We will do all that is within our reach to provide good business environment for you and your expansion programmes and any area you think we can be of service to you as a government, let us know.”

Okowa stressed that government alone can not absorb the teeming number of unemployed Deltans, stating that it was important for multinational companies to key into the employment programmes of government.

He said that the American oil giant has a good relationship with government and the people, and was optimistic that its operations will grow in the state as it will be more beneficial to the people.

Okowa said: “Government cannot fill the gap in terms of the large number of unemployed youths in our society, the way forward is to get a lot of them involved in agricultural and entrepreneurial scheme so that they can become small scale employers of labour, this is where we need to partner with you in your robust agricultural and entrepreneurial scheme.”