- The collaboration between NDDC and IOCs aims to reduce the impact of climate change on the Niger Delta region.
- The commission stresses the need for oil companies to reduce gas flaring and other forms of pollution.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has pledged its commitment to collaborate with International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other development partners to increase investments in renewable energy projects. According to the commission, the collaboration aims to tackle the effects and reduce the impact of climate change on the Niger Delta region. During a courtesy visit by a delegation from TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the commission’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, reaffirmed the importance of sustainable partnerships in driving the development process.
Ogbuku said that the commission had gone into a mutually beneficial relationship with the Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries, which incorporates the IOCs, by paying more attention to infrastructural development in their areas of operations. He added, “Climate Change is real, and the oil companies should help by reducing gas flaring and other forms of pollution. We need to protect our communities by investing more in clean energy sources. On our part, we are focusing more on solar energy to help in combating climate change.”
The NDDC CEO emphasised the need for sustainable partnerships that would benefit the people of the Niger Delta region. Furthermore, he cited the partnership between the commission and the Shell Petroleum Development Corporation in building the Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State as an example of a successful collaboration. He said that NDDC would like to replicate that model with TotalEnergies, Chevron and other major IOCs. In addition, he stated that the partnerships would bring about more development.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Joint Venture Assets, TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited, Mr Obi Imemba, commended the commission for its role in the development of the Niger Delta region, stating, “We at Total Energies believe so much in partnerships which are in agreement with one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. What you are doing in NDDC is ticking the boxes around sustainable development goals, so we believe that we have a lot in common.”