Ijeoma Agudosi/Joseph Bakare
Imo State Government has expressed disappointment over the activities of Nigerian Agip Oil Company,(NAOC) saying it has neglected oil producing communities in the state despite the cooperation of the people.
The State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, who stated this during the 19th Farmers Day celebration hosted by the Oil Company at the Green River Project Plant Propagation Centre in Ogba-Egbema, Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, noted that it was the first time the state would be invited for such important event as an oil producing state.
He recalled that the poor management of the pollution caused by the explosion of two crude oil storage facilities of the Firm polluted the source of water of about 13 communities in Egbema, one of the oil producing communities in the state, adding that it was the intervention of the State government that restored peace in the community.
Madumere, deplored the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility when it comes to dealings with the host communities in the state.
He described as surprising the fact that the Firm has been teaching latest farming techniques, offering extension services and micro credit to farmers in over 120 rural communities without including any community in the state.