Worried by lack of development in oil producing areas of Imo state, group operating under the aegis of Imo Beyond Oil Stakeholders has scheduled a summit on need for sustainable development in the areas and Imo state in general.
In a statement made available to newsmen, an oil expert, Ejike Chukwu, said the summit will take place on December 9 this year at Landmark Hall, Protea Hotel, Owerri, the Imo state Capital.
According to him, the summit is be powered by members of the Urash Economic Empowerment Advocacy Initiative under the leadership of Ejike Chukwu, an oil and gas expert from Ohaji/Egbema local government area of the state.
Speaking further, he said that there is the need for an engagement of stakeholders in the oil industry from Imo state to rethink and look beyond oil for infrastructural development of the areas and Imo state in general.
He recalled that over the years, Nigeria has continued to deplete in its oil revenue due to variant factors which includes corruption while according to him oher countries have continued to diversify its revenue and Gross Domestic Product, GDP through reinventing innovative oil management strategies and revolution of non-oil intervention.
He said Imo state is one of the oil producing states with Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta as the key centre saying: “yet what has been the outcome of this development to the state and the community with various indications showing more needs to be done.”
“There needs to be an engaging of various stakeholders in this sector from imo state to rethink and look beyond oil.”
