Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has assured multinational oil corporations in the state of peaceful work environment.

He also assured that the state government would partner with the oil companies to generate employment for the people.

Senator Okowa gave the assurance Tuesday when the Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Clay Neff, led executive of the company to pay him a courtesy visit in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

According to the governor, it is impossible for the multi-national companies to operate successfully in a restive setting, hence the need for the government to provide the enabling environment for peace to thrive.

“It is in our joint interests to get these youths engaged so that your working environment will be conducive.”

“We will do all that is within our reach to provide good business environment for you and your expansion programmes and any area you think we can be of service to you as a government, let us know,” he assured.

The governor also said that government alone cannot absorb the teeming number of unemployed Deltans, stating that it was important for multinational companies to key into the employment programmes of government.

“There is no doubt that Chevron has a good relationship with government and the people of Delta State, it is our hope that your operations grow in the state as it will be more beneficial to our people,” he said, noting: “We advise that between you and other service companies, you should engage more Deltans, not only on contract jobs but, on permanent basis because, this will seal your relationship with the host communities.”

The governor added, “government cannot fill the gap in terms of the large number of unemployed youths in our society, the way forward is to get a lot of them involved in agricultural and entrepreneurial scheme so that they can become small scale employers of labour, this is where we need to partner with you in your robust agricultural and entrepreneurial scheme.”

Earlier, Mr. Neff congratulated Governor Okowa on his victory at the polls and subsequent assumption of duty, stating that Chevron has been operating in Delta State for more than five decades and “has good partnership with the government and the people of the state.”

•Photo shows Governor Okowa.

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