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… Communities Excited over Scholarships, Road, Other Projects
By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt
Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) and Lekoil Oil Joint Venture, as part of their contribution to society, by delivering on their corporate social responsibilities, on Friday kicked off several projects to positively impact on host communities in three communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The projects are being provided in conjunction with Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) and the New Nigerian Foundation (NNF), from the 3% Operating Expenses (OPEX), and aimed at implementing the provision of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for the development of oil host communities.
In the design, structure, and processes of the companies’ social responsibility programme the projects are intended to maximize value-accelerating factors throughout the host communities of Ikuru Town, Ugama Ekede, Ayama Ekede, Asukama & Asukoyet.
The projects to be executed in the first phase of a 5 year-plan include, one kilometer road leading into Ugama Ekede, scholarship for students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, as well as bursary for university students in Ugama Ekede, a town hall and a box culvert in Asuk-ama and road projects in Asukoyet.
Several other sustainable development initiatives had been undertaken through the MoU regime since 2014, until the establishment of the Host Community Development Trust under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
The coming on stream of these projects saw royal fathers, community chiefs, women and youths of the three benefiting communities of Ugama Ekede, Asuk-ama and Asukoyet, overwhelmed with joy.
An overjoyed paramount ruler of Asukoyet, His Royal Highness, King Brown, Asuk VI, the Okama of Asukoyet, commended the Joint Venture operators and the HCDT for the road project awarded to his community, adding that the road has been the major challenge facing his people.
Brown said the lack of road has affected the social and economic life of the people, adding that cars and tippers avoid the community because of the poor state of the road.
The royal father stated: “By the grace of God all of us are happy to see that the JV is trying. The present road we are flagging off now is money from the community. It is what we got from the JV that is being used for this road.
“This project is our number one priority. Apart from our house, where we run to when it is raining, road is another important thing any community needs.
“The road has affected us in so many ways. Sometimes, ordinary sand. Somebody will have little money to build a house, but no tipper will agree to come and bring in sand for you because of no road. If this road is completed it will restore hope and bring progress in the community”.
Also speaking, the chairman Ugama Ekede Council of Chiefs, Hon. Harry Ekpirikpo, whose community got a 1 kilometer road project urged the contractors to ensure that the road was delivered according to the expected standard and in record time.
Hon. Ekpirikpo noted that at after the road project the community would want the board to complete the community town hall.
He said: “We need a road to drive cars into our community. We are happy. Before, you will have to trek a kilometer before you get to this community. The importance of this road you have come to flag of cannot be over emphasized; the road is vital to us.
“We have a town hall that we were to started before this board came. We are urging the board to complete that hall by next year. The foundation has been laid and taken to a level. Do it for us in the next phase of your project.
“We are seeking scholarships for our children. We cannot do all these infrastructures without factoring in the education of our children”, Hon. Ekpirikpo added.
The women were not left out as that women of Ugama Ekede who spoke through their leader, Mrs Cordilia Samuel Elijah, expressing pleasure with the flagging off of the road project in the area.
She said it was the first time the riverine community would see a tarred road, urging the contractor to ensure that they constructed the road based on specifications.
Mrs Elija said: “We are very happy with the project. But, we are suggesting to them that the road should be the main road leading to the community. Although, the chiefs have the final say, but we want the right thing to be done, because it is for all of us”.
Speaking at the flag off at Ugama Ekede, chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the HCDT, Nathan Asuk, noted that the projects were nominated by the communities, promising that it would be delivered to the people according to the specified terms.
Asuk, who was represented by Dr. Metong Amakiri, at the flag off promised the communities that the project would be delivered based on specification and timely too.
He said: “We are here for brief interaction with the communities and to flag off the first phase of the road projects. We are all partners in the community development. We have no reason not to develop our communities.
“The project was nominated by this community and the contractor chosen through a transparent process. Our duty is to ensure that the project is executed. We urge the contractors to ensure that the project is delivered based on specifications and on time.
“Our people are hungry for development, especially, like this road. We will not betray the community. Please, feel free, if any contractor tries to deviate or abandon the project, please our doors a opened to receive your reports.
Partners to the JV, New Nigeria Foundation, NNF, a body that carried out the Need Assessment in the communities, also charged the communities to shun any form of disagreement and allow peace in order for the projects to be completed.
Mr. Temitope Aremu, who represented the company, and also led the Needs Assessment processes in the community, confirmed that as stipulated in the PIA that the projects to be executed were chosen by the communities through a transparent process.
Speaking at Ugama Community, Aremu said: “We want to thank the various arms of this community for this opportunity and to inform you that this project is community based; so I urge you to monitor it.
“Peace is the bedrock of development. I urge you to monitor the programme. If the project is concluded more projects will come. Development like this attracts good things. If we encourage this projects more will come. The JV is ready to deliver more projects.
Aremu explained: “It is a five-year development plan for the community and they are starting with the roads and other projects. PIA is a law and not an agreement. So there are processes.
“Why we have not started since is because there are processes to put in place before implementation starts. All the set laws were followed so that nobody goes against the law”.
