TheCable

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with General Electric (GE), an American multinational that has been operating in Nigeria for about 40 years, to develop some communities in Bayelsa state.

The projects, which include four primary healthcare centres with healthcare workers trained to international standards, are to be situated in Ogbia local government area and some other neighboring communities.

A fully-equipped general hospital would also be built in Oloibiri, the locality where crude oil was first discovered in Nigeria.

Speaking at a ceremony in Lagos, Mutiu Sunmonu, the outgoing country chair of Shell companies in Nigeria (pictured), said Shell was sponsoring the project to commemorate the country’s centenary and to recognise the communities where oil was first discovered in Nigeria.

Sunmonu, who noted that the initiative would provide universal health coverage and health system for the people, reiterated Shell’s committment to sustainable initiatives that empower communities rather than dishing out handouts.

Lazarus Angbazo, GE’s president in Nigeria, said the project was unique because beyond the provision of healthcare infrastructure, it boost research and training of healthcare professionals.

Angbazo said GE was very delighted at the opportunity to deliver a project that would have a transformative impact on humanity, adding that rural healthcare solutions was one of the focus areas of GE Healthcare’s business in Nigeria.

“The impact of this project is not only on the physical infrastructure and the provision of healthcare services to the people of Oloibiri and neighboring communities, but also in the inherent employment opportunities that this initiative provides,” he said.