 |
| REPS OF COMMUNITIES ON KRDF AT THE AGM, |
Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) on Thursday said Chevron/NNPC joint venture has committed over N3.5 billion to eight community clusters in Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas in Bayelsa since 2005.
The benefiting communities are
Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Foropa, Fish Town Ekeni,and Santana forming the
acronym KEFFES.
Mr Esimaje Brinkinn, General Manager,
Policy,Government and Public Affairs, CNL who stated this while delivering a
goodwill message at the 2020 Annual General Meeting of KEFFES Rural Development
Foundation (KRDF) in Yenagoa.
Brinkinn, who was represented by Mr
Sam Daibo, Area Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, FieldOperations, CNL said the oil firm
provided the funds under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU)
administered by KRDF.
According to him, the development
funds spent over the years went into infrastructure and non-infrastructure
projects including scholarships and human capital development that have added
value to KRDF communities.
He assured that Chevron remained
committed to its social obligations even in the harsh operating environment
occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a tough time for the Oil and
Gas industry globally. Nevertheless, Chevron takes its role as a corporate
citizen in Nigeria seriously and remains active in many projects that promote
health, education and economic development.
“We are committed to the terms of the
GMoU. We will carry through on our commitments as contained in the agreements,”
He said.
According to the audited reports for
2019,and 2020 financial years presented at the meeting, the KRDF received a
total sum of N401.29 million in 2019 and N386.58 million in 2020 from Chevron
for development of the eight communities.
Mr Mathew Sele-Epri, Chairman of KRDF
noted that the foundation was grateful to CNL for keeping faith and meeting its
funding obligations to the GMoU but appealed for upward review of the funding
in view of inflationary trends.
He assured that the communities were
committed to peaceful atmosphere and providing a business friendly environment
for oil and gas activities in the domain and urged the youths to support the
efforts of the foundation.
Chief Jeremiah Leghemo, Traditional
Ruler of Koluama 1 applauded Chevron for meeting its social obligations in face
of daunting challenges facing the oil industry and urged other stakeholders to
build the foundation to grow to enviable heights.
The monarch urged governmt officials
to refrain from interfering with the selection of community representatives on
the KRDF as it was against the letters and spirit of the GMoU.
“And to the government of Bayelsa, I
wish to appeal to state officials in Ministries Departments and Agencies including
Commissioners and political appointees to respect the established practice on
ground in the area of selecting community representatives.
“Deciding who represents a community
remains the business and prerogative of the community and no one else. No government
body, department, politician or any external person has the right to dictate to
the foundation or the community who should represent them,” the Monarch said.
Mr Ibiere Jones, Commisioner for
Mineral Resources in his remarks urged the founda5ion to collaborate with the
state government to harmonise the rural development projects of the government
and those of the foundation.
o
o
o
o
17
No comments:
Post a Comment