By Samuel Oyadongha
Bayelsa State Government has lauded the community development initiative of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over the implementation of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) among the communities of Nembe Kingdom of the state, saying it will lead to sustainable development and generate employment.

The state government through the state Commissioner for Energy, Maxwell Oko said though there were twelve existing GMoU expected to be beneficial to over a hundred communities of the state, the implementation of the GMoU in line with the value-driven partnership between the oil companies and the host communities will lead to rapid development in the Niger Delta.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Motor Park/NCDF Administrative office in Yenagoa, Oko said the implementation of the GMoU has led to the return and re-modified relationship between the people of Nembe Kingdom and the SPDC.

In his remark, the state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva represented by his Deputy, Werinipre Seibarugu, said the state government was impressed by the cooperation between the Nembe Kingdom and SPDC with a promise to assist in the self help projects of the area.

The former Minister of Petroleum and Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, Dr. Edmund Daukoru said though the community is worried by the refusal of the SPDC to provide road and power generating projects for the Nembe Kingdom as agreed, the implementation of the GMoU is a commendable effort.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Nembe City Development Foundation, Chief Isaac Howells Young-Dede pointed out that since the establishment of the Development Foundation through the implementation of the GMoU they have embarked on sustainable projects.

“We have embarked on sustainable projects and transformed the Nembe city and satellite towns,” he said.

He said a total of 85 projects have been executed through the GMoU between 2009 and 2010 including the Nembe City Printing Company, Foundation Guest House, drainage systems, overseas scholarship schemes among others.

“SPDC can’t do it alone and we expect other donor agencies to assist in the sustainable development plan of the state,” he said.

The Managing Director and Country Chairman of the SPDC, Mr. Mutiu Sumonu said though the company believed in value-driven partnership, the partnership needed will engage the strength of companies, government and the civil societies and can, under the right conditions, yield better and more sustainable results for communities.