By Oladipo Airenakho
Benin City – Edo state government has called on multinational companies operating in the state to deliver on their corporate social Responsibilities (CSR).
The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki said Edo people have little or nothing to show for the several years of existence of oil and gas companies in the state, especially in areas of employment and human development.
Governor Obaseki disclosed this when members of Senate Committee on Petroleum and Upstream paid him a courtesy call on Thursday in Government House, Benin.
“The core of what is left in NNPC is NPDC and that is the heart of the Corporation; It is located in Edo state which is an oil producing state. But, we do feel the impact of that institution locally.
“We have seen here, planes arrive, Contractors arrive in the morning disembark from their private jets; they come into the state, they have conversation, hold discussion and in the evening, they board their flights and leave.
“What they came to discuss sometimes amount to billions of dollars and transactions; we do not get the benefit of it and we feel that it is something to be addressed,” he said.
Obaseki however implored members of the National Assembly through the instrument of law and peaceful means to support him in the crusade, clarifying that Edo people have never been known for violence.
According to him, “the most salient issue in the Country is security. We do not have record of violence or attack on oil facilities in Edo and we will prevent it”.
The Chairman on Senate Committee on Petroleum and Upstream, Sen. Omotayo Alashodura, had told the governor that they were on a mission for an oversight of some Federal Institutions in Edo state.
