State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) in partnership with Finbank Nigeria PLC have disbursed micro-credit loans totalling N800 million to over 1,200 cooperative drawn from the five oil producing ethnic nationalities of Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko and Ndokwa in Delta State.

Mr. Monday Whiskey, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the DESOPADEC chairman, in a statement, weekend said, "In its determination to empower the people in its mandate areas, the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) is now partnering with Finbank Nigeria PLC to the tune of N1billion.

"The executive chairman of DESOPADEC and Bolowei (Prime Minister) of the Ijaw oil/gas- rich kingdom of Gbaramatu in Warri South Council, Chief Wellington Okirika described the partnership as rewarding, as Finbank will no doubt bring its professionalism in micro-financing to ensure that the scheme is successful," he said.

"Nothing will stop the Delta oil agency on improving the lots of the people in the areas of improving their living conditions and providing qualitative developmental projects.

DESOPADEC, as an interventionist agency will continue to positively pursue the three-point agenda of the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan's administration, which is fast recording outstanding successes in all facets of human existence," he quoted his boss as saying.