The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Limited and partners have expressed a renewed desire to work together to commence production in abandoned oil wells to the benefit of community and the country.
NPDC is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The Managing Director of NPDC, Mr Mohammed AliZarah, spoke at event by the Ogoni Liberation Initiative, according to a statement signed on Tuesday by Alhaji Garba Deen Muhammad, Group General Manager (Public Affairs), NNPC.
He said that the company understood the concerns and yearnings of the Ogoni people and shared in their pain.
According to him, the NPDC and the Federal Government (FG) would work with the communities to ensure their environment was remediated and the activities not impacted negatively on their environment but bring them development, employment and growth.
He said the organisation of the event by the Ogoni Liberation Initiative and the turn-up of various people including traditional rulers, youths and women had buoyed the confidence of the company.
This, he described as ‘an act of love and solidarity’.
“Indeed, this is a clear testimonial and demonstration of a strong cordial relationship that has existed between us over the years.
“This, for us is our social licence to operate in this peace loving community,’’ he said.
AliZarah observed that it was in the best collective national interest of the country to speedily restore the environment of Ogoniland, and create the needed condition for the social economic development of the communities.
“As a viable partner, we would join you to pursue the greater good of our people and the nation.
“We stand with you and would work with you to achieve this within the shortest possible time,” he said.
On the communique submitted by the Ogoni Liberation Initiative signed by leaders of various communities that make up Ogoni land, AliZarah assured them that he would send the document to the management of the NNPC for onward transmission to the relevant quarters including the President.