SPDC spends N3.9bn on community projects in Bayelsa

THE Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has spent more than N3.91 billion on community development projects in Bayelsa State in the last five years.Mr Tony Attah, the Vice President, Corporate Affairs of the company, disclosed this in Yenagoa at a ceremony to mark the end of the agreement the company signed with the communities.He said the projects were captured under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) signed between the company and the communities in 2006.'SPDC has succeeded in bringing to the doorstep of its host communities, concrete physical development projects which are of immense benefits to the people,'' he said.'When the projects commenced in 2006, SPDC signed GMOU with four cluster communities, namely Gbaran/Ekpetiama, Okordia/Zaram, Kolo Creek and Epie/Atissa.'So far, we have committed N 3.911 billion to sustainable community development programmes tied to the construction of a Central Processing Unit (CPU), which has increased the supply of gas for domestic power generation and export.''Attah explained that the projects included the construction of roads and health centres, and drilling of boreholes in more than 44 communities in the state.'Apart from achieving its objectives of increasing Nigeria's oil and gas production capacity, Gbaran-Ubie project has greatly enhanced the delivery of infrastructural facilities to the host communities.'It has also provided several sub-contracting jobs and employment opportunities for youths in the clusters,' he added.Attah commended the project advisory committee, community leaders and NGOs for their commitments and hard work which ensured the execution of the projects in the affected areas.
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