The State Government says it is committed to ensuring that Multinational Oil Companies operate in the state in a peaceful environment, and appealed to other stakeholders to be part of the peace development process.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil and Gas, Mr. David Ekerekosu, stated this while speaking at the opening ceremony of a two day forum of Golf of Guinea Security Strategy in Asaba.

Mr. Ekerekosu who highlighted some steps taken so far by the State Government at ensuring good relationship between Oil companies and oil bearing communities in the State said the development has drastically reduced tension in the area.

He commended the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for establishing the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, the Delta Waterways Security Outfit and the office of the Special Adviser on Oil and Gas to relate between oil companies and the host communities.

He said these initiatives of the State Governor have contributed to the peaceful operations in the State and charged the oil companies to assist the State Government by being open in their operations.

The programme coordinator, Mrs Dayo Akinmoyo of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said the Golf of Guinea Energy Security Strategy is a presidential initiative which has its membership from the four core Niger Delta states of Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers.The State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr, Bernard Okumagba, at the ceremony presented the Delta State Vision 2020 framework.