Dickson: Those Opposed to IOCs Relocation Enemies of N’Delta

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

  Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, thursday took a swipe at those opposed to the action of the federal government to move headquarters of oil multinationals to the Niger Delta region.

Dickson insisted that the new plan must be implemented to a logical conclusion, noting that all International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the region must have their head offices in the Niger Delta.

The federal government had, as part of its peace deal with the people of the oil-rich area, announced the move to essentially ‘give the oil communities a sense of belonging’.

“Let me sound it loud and clear that anyone who is opposed to the relocation of oil companies to the Niger Delta as directed by the federal government is clearly against the peace and stability of the region,” Dickson said in a statement by his spokesman, Daniel Iworiso-Markson.
he statement said the governor made the assertion while speaking at a special dinner organised by the state government on the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC)  in Houston, Texas, United States of America.

During the event tagged: ‘Bayelsa/Oloibiri Roundtable’, the governor said Bayelsa state was safe for investment, maintaining that the oil companies have nothing to fear.

 While speaking on the plan to drive investment and support the growth of the state’s economy through active engagement of the private sector, Dickson was said to have reiterated the establishment of three modular refineries in each of the senatorial zones.

 “Part of what we are doing as a government to further indicate our seriousness to would-be investors is to provide land for their investment and to fast track all titles and documents relating to the acquisition of the land complete with a signed C of O within a month.
“This is in addition to the Industrial Park for which we have acquired the land measuring over 213 hectares in size and as we speak, clearing is going on and the dredging of the land will commence soon.
“We will provide 24 hours power to the industrial park, so investors should be rest assured of their power needs round the clock,” he said.
Country Chairman of Daewoo, Joe Pinawe, who spoke on security during the occasion, noted that the company had not recorded any case of kidnapping of its expatriate workers who are all living and working in Yenagoa.
Aside Dickson, a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe; Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB),  Simbi Wabote, and  Mr. Osagie Okunbor of Shell also reportedly addressed the audience.

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