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Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has finally made an announcement that the Multinational oil exploration giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has put out the output to return to the state to resume operations after years of exiting the state as a result of insecurity.
Governor Hope Uzodimma had made this disclosure in a statement which had been issued on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to Governor Oguwike Nwachukwu after a meeting between him and the SPDC Chairman and Managing director, Mr Osagie Okunbor in Abuja.
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He had noted that the planned return of Shell to Imo is one out of numerous efforts his administration had made recently to bring back companies that left the State either as a result of insecurity or liquidation based on debt overhang.
The Governor also stated that his administration successfully brought back the Standard Shoe Company Limited hitherto operating in Owerri which has been taken over by AMCON because of indebtedness. He said that his administration successfully cleared the debt overhang of N1.6 billion to receive the Certificate of Occupancy from AMCON management to resume operations.
According to the Governor, Shell specifically left Imo State because of insecurity even before his administration came on board.
He said: “One of the observations of my administration upon resumption of office, was the fact that Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) had been off-site and suspended operations in Imo State as a result of insecurity, vandalism and illegal oil bunkering within the region”.
He said having restored peace and tranquillity along the coastline, today, he met again with the Managing Director and Chairman of the oil giant, Osagie Okunbor adding that he was elated at his assurance and confirmation of the company’s resolve to resume exploration in the State.
