Imo berates oil companies for breaching Mous

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IMO State has berated oil companies in the state for reneging on the Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU), they signed with the state government.

Regretting that some of the affected companies have reduced the Mous to mere “tissue papers”, Special Assistant to Governor Hope Uzodimma/ Coordinator on Oil and Gas Matters, Goodluck Opiah, said: “It is sad to note that some oil companies operating in the state are yet to live up to their Corporate Social Responsibility. Some of them don’t have workable MOUS with their host communities and are doing nothing about it. The state government will no longer tolerate these breaches.”

He noted further: “All oilproducing companies operating in the state are reminded that the government takes the breaches seriously and they should take urgent steps to remedy them. Those who do not have operational offices in the state yet should also ensure that they quickly address this.

Opiah stated this during an event to mark the passing out of 47 candidates trained by Waltersmith Refinery and Petrochemical Company in its Technical Skills Acquisition Programme, 2021.

At Protea Hotels, Owerri, venue of the ceremony, the chief executive officer of Waltersmith Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Mr. Chikezie Nwosu, disclosed that his firm, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation ( UNIDO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA), would build a multi- billion naira industrial park in its host community, Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area.

He also announced plans by the firm to employ five of the 47 persons trained.