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The Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has frowned at the non-remittance of taxes, to the state government by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
Governor Ikpeazu while speaking at a meeting with the management of Shell at the Government House Umuahia, wondered why the company had neglected the communities where oil exploration activities of the firm, has caused untold health and environmental challenges to the life and properties of the people.
He expressed concern over the attitude shown the multinational oil firm towards the people of the state.
Meanwhile, the leader of Shell delegation who is also the Land East Manager of Shell, Sam Ezugworie commended the governor and said that his company is prepared to collaborate with the state government and host communities to improve things.
He disclosed that the company had in the last six years spent 420 million Naira as its social investment in its host communities and in Owaza, one of the oil bearing communities in Ukwa West.
“I want to state here, that the company has offered scholarships to 457 secondary school students and 74 university students while 210 persons have benefited from the company enterprise development activities.
In addition, the company has also built a cottage hospital and five legacy projects in the last six years.”
On behalf of the host communities, Sam Nwogu hinted that three oil wells in Uzoaku in Ukwa West are tagged to Obigbo in Rivers State without any revenue coming to Abia and pleaded with the Governor to prevail on the SPDC to change the name to Imo River to reflect the community where the oil is produced.
Shell has been operating in Ukwa West local government area of Abia state since 1958, before the creation of Abia State in 1991.
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