N/Delta: NPDC spends N606m on host communities in 2 years-MD

From Osakhare Erese Asaba

As part of its social responsibility, the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) has said it spent the whopping sum of N606million on education, skills acquisition and health care programmes for host communities in Edo, Delta and Imo states between 2016 and 2017.
Mr. Yusuf Matashi who spoke to journalists in Kwale yesterday, disclosed that the NPDC would spend N92million on scholarship awards in 2018, adding that 8, 540 students benefited from the company’s scholarship awards between 2016 and 2017, while 284 youths were trained in welding and fabrication, tailoring auto mechanic and ICT.
He said that NPDC also paid out N246million to 6, 784 beneficiaries from Edo, Delta and Imo states in 2016, while 1, 756 beneficiaries were paid N60.4million in 2017.
According to the Managing Director, “the drop in total paid out in 2017 to the handover of OMLS 26, 34, and 42 to Asset Management Teams (AMTS), and OML 30 to Heritage Energy Operational Service Limited, adding that the company regards its host, and impacted communities as stakeholders.
He said that one of the primary objectives in the partnership was to encourage education and knowledge, stressing that virtually all the company’s projects are conceived to meet the needs of the people.
Mr. Matashi further disclosed that NPDC is passionate about community health, adding that healthy community remain happy one as the company will continue to support the need for improved health awareness and general wellbeing of community members, particularly providing health support for Erhioke, Omadino, Igbide, Ekapamere Otu-Jeremi, Effurun-Otuor, Okpere and Ellu all in Delta State, projects that were handed over to NPDC by shell.