BEVERLY HILLS, February 02, (THEWILL) – Nyesom Wike, Governor, Rivers State, has asked Italian oil firm, Agip, known as Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), to improve its corporate social responsibility (CSR) in its host communities, where reported cases of neglect by the company are common.
Wike gave the charge as he received the new District General Manager of NAOC, Marco Rotondi, along with the outgoing District GM, Poalo Carnevale.
Wike particularly urged the oil company to complete work on the rehabilitation of the Agip Junction to Agip headquarters in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area for the people to benefit. The less than two kilometres road, which is being rehabilitated, has been in terrible state of disrepair for quite some time.
Only three weeks ago, 15 spy police men working with the Italian oil firm were said to have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen along the Port Harcourt – Brass Waterways while returning to Port Harcourt from work at Brass. Till date, complaints are rife that the oil firm has not effected their release.
Meanwhile, the governor has assured oil prospecting firms operating in the state of adequate security to carry out their businesses, saying the security measures taken by his administration had improved security across the state.
According to Wike, the State Security Council has worked out modalities for the incremental improvement of security in liaison with all stakeholders.
“Our responsibility is to provide an enabling environment for all businesses to thrive. We have succeeded in improving security around your operational base in Omoku. Going forward, we will enhance the security situation in your operational base,” he told the new NAOC district general manager.
Rotondi congratulated the governor and assured him that the company would cooperate with the state government at all times; while the outgoing GM, Carnevale said the period he spent in the state was fruitful, commending the state government for creating enabling environment for operation of the company.
Story by David Oputah
