Yenagoa–The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was on Wednesday urged to consider the relocation of its head office to Bayelsa State.
The state governor, Douye Diri, made the demand when Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director of SPDC, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, reiterated that the relationship between Shell and the Bayelsa state government has historical significance dating back to when oil was first discovered in Otuogidi, Ogbia Local Government Area.
The governor was quoted as saying: “On behalf of this Prosperity Administration and the people of Bayelsa State, I have been directed to invite you to relocate your headquarters back to your state, the peaceful state of Bayelsa.
“You are aware that I’m an apostle of the relocation of your headquarters. You would agree with me that Bayelsa is peaceful and stable.
“I know it might not be very easy to relocate everything but let us feel a fundamental presence of Shell. In fact, there is no reason why the Shell headquarters should be in any place other than Bayelsa,” he declared.
Governor Douye Diri, who solicited the partnership of the SPDC on infrastructural projects such as the Nembe-Brass road as well as the ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma and Sagbama-Ekeremor road projects, also thanked the company for its support in the construction of the Ogbia-Nembe road.
Speaking on his administration’s policy on supervising the signing of Global Memorandum of Understanding between host communities and companies, the governor said it became imperative to step in as a result of breach of agreement.
“We have seen situations where GMoU is signed but only very few people, who claim to be community leaders, are aware of it. And that becomes a veritable tool for community conflicts.”
In his remarks, Mr. Osagie Okunbor promised to sustain the relationship between the company and the state.
Describing Bayelsa as the company’s most important host state, he commended governor Diri for the peaceful disposition of the state and his leadership strides.
