By AMEDU JOSEPH, Lokoja
The Kogi State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (KOSOPADEC) has assured that it will run a purposeful governance prioritising the welfare and developmental needs of host communities and the state.
The assurance came during a four-day peer review tour of the Imo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ISOPADEC) in Owerri, Imo State capital.
The Chairman of the Commission, Comrade Suleiman Abdullahi, noted that the visit was aimed at comparing notes, cooperating and working in synergy for the benefit of Kogi and Imo states.
He said, “As a young commission, it is imperative to understudy the older ones to tap into their opportunities and learn from their challenges.”
He added that the interests of the communities were uppermost for the commission and that the knowledge gathered during the interaction had equipped them with the tools to make a difference and ward off rumours that could impede the smooth running of the commission.
Abdullahi commended Governor Yahaya Bello for providing the commission with the necessary apparatus to take off on a sound footing and thanked the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, for approving the visit.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of KOSOPADEC, James Jackson, has stated that the strategic position of ISOPADEC and the mutual relationship between Kogi and Imo State governments informed the choice of Imo State as the first state to be visited.
He explained, “The experience that ISOPADEC has gathered since its inauguration has made it a model for a newer commission like KOSOPADEC. Whatever experience we gather will be replicated in our state. We have seen the advancement so far and are prepared to bring the ideas back home.”
During the visit, the host chairman, Amuzienwa Dele Odigbo, and former Sole Administrator, Joakis Uzoka, alongside other officials, emphasised the need to establish functional departments, including Administration, Finance and Accounts, Works, Education, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Legal and Agriculture, to translate programmes and projects into reality.
Odigbo stressed the importance of cooperation in procurement and tender processes to avoid friction, warning that mishandling could undermine the successes recorded so far.
He noted that the Chairman of the Board must work harmoniously with the MD, who manages the commission’s daily operations, and that all staff must observe the highest level of professionalism.
On youth, women and traditional institutions in oil-producing communities, he noted that their interests must be factored into the commission’s plans to ensure peace and stability.
Any attempt to undermine them, he warned, could lead to restiveness and hinder development.