The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has added another feather to his cap as he was bestowed with the Niger Delta Man of the Year, 2022 award.
The award was conferred on the Minister at the 7th Anniversary Lecture/Niger Delta Awards 2022, which was part of events for Gbaramatu Voice Media 7th Anniversary Lecture, held in Abuja on Tuesday, 30th August, 2022
The Minister who was the keynote speaker at the event was represented by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Engr. Busari Kamoru Oladimeji, FNSE.
In his address at the event read by Engr. Busari, Sylva informed that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources had set Machineries in place with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and placed high premium to the host communities as enablers of our common wealth.
“Nigeria’s PIA 2021, has a chapter dedicated to the development of host communities, which creates a framework to support its development, fostering sustainable prosperity and provision of direct social and economic benefits to the host communities from petroleum operations, and seeks to enhance harmonious coexistence between the host communities and the operating companies”, the Minister noted.
Sylva restated that the PIA has mandated oil and gas company operators to devote a percentage of their total expenditure to the development of their respective host communities. Consequently, the bill provided for a “Host Communities Development Trust Fund” (the “Trust”), which is to ensure that there is sufficient finance to execute sustainable development projects for the host communities. He noted that failure to incorporate the Trust may be a ground for the revocation of the applicable license or lease.
The Minister assured Gbaramatu Voice that the outfit was held closely to his heart and in high esteem for their roles in propagating the culture and unity of the Ijaw people and for their stride in becoming the voice of the Ijaws and a good part of the nation.
In his welcome address, the Publisher/CEO, Gbaramatu Voice, Jacob Abai stated that the celebration was an avenue to commit ourselves to the community. He said that certain challenges have been encountered in the past Seven years but the Organization remained on the part of Morals and Principles which is the hallmark of the media.
Other dignitaries present at the event were, Engr. Udeng Eradiri, Managing Director, Radnitz Integrated Services, Interim Administrator, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Efiong Akwa, Chairman/Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Richard Kennedy among others.
The Gbaramatu Voice Media 7th Anniversary Lecture has as its theme: ”Oil Politics, Securing National Assets, Dependency and Diversification”
Signed,
Enefaa Bob-Manuel (Mrs.)
Director (Information)
MPR
