By ISHOLA BALOGUN
In a bid to put in place a robust corporate social responsibility programme, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, the operator of the NPDC/Seplat Joint Venture, has reiterated its commitment to work with various host communities under its operations for sustainable development programmes.

Speaking at an interactive session/dinner with media men to mark one year of operations in the country in Lagos recently, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Austin Avuru noted that the company regards its host communities as stakeholders in the business adding that it also considers capacity building and empowerment as its primary objective.

He disclosed that the company might consider negotiating for a technical committee that will work to international standard and ready to partner with any Nigerian company to implement sustainable development programmes to host communities.

Emphasising the need for good mutual relationship between the company and the various host communities under the company’s operation, Avuru said: “Community development is one of our objectives, we intend to work with them in order to deliver values.” adding that “you actually reduce the cost of operation by involving communities.”

The company which recently obtained a $275million credit line from local and international banks has several stakeholding communities in the Niger Delta region.