Plans are underway to establish Lagos State Oil Producing Areas Community Development Committee (LASOPACDEC).
The committee when established would ensure that relevant segments of the oil producing area in Badagry, including women, youths, traditional rulers and other stakeholders not only enjoy development, but protected against degradation.
The state commissioner for energy and mineral resources, Olalere Odusote, who made this known during the oil producing areas community relations committee engagement forum, in Badagry, a bill to institutionalise the committee was being aggressively pursued at the House of Assembly.
Odusote said the ratification of the bill and the introduction of a Lagos State Oil Producing Areas Community Relations (Omnibus) bill, along with other pending and ongoing regulatory, judicial and state reforms, would stand the state out in terms of compliance with international standards.
According to him, the bill was aimed at institutionalising the collaborative social responsibility effort that was put in place to ensure that stakeholders have a platform to advise government on different issues relevant to unhindered operation in the oil producing areas.
He assured the inclusion of indigenes in the employment plan of the relevant companies operating within the communities, the commissioner also promised to encourage oil companies to engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) intervention projects for the benefit of host communities which according to him will empower skilled and unskilled women and youths in the host communities
“We have obtained the necessary approvals from the governor for a conference to take the discussion further. In the next few weeks the ministry will announce the modalities for the conference. He commend the efforts of traditional rulers in the area who he said, have been in the forefront of the success of the committee for their dedication, commitment, unity of purpose and loyalty to the cause of developing their communities and the State
Stakeholders at the interactive session, however, decried the lack of infrastructure in Badagry and urged the state government to be more responsive to the needs of the oil producing communities.
Vice chairman of the committee, Solomon Hunponu-Wusu said the committee would address its responsibilities with all the seriousness it deserved while also providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the area.
