Tanko Mohammed
The NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture (JV) has spent no less than N7 billion on the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) with the Egbema and Gbaramatu communities of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta since 2005.
Mr Sam Daibo, Chevron’s Area Manager, Field Operations made the disclosure on behalf of Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager, PGPA Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL) at the 11th Annual General Meeting and Inauguration of a New Set of Executive of the Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF) at Effurun, near Warri in Delta.
He said that CNL was happy to see a stable leadership transition in the Regional Development Committee (RDC) that had continued to deliver the much desired development to EGCDF communities.
“Since inception in 2005, the NNPC/Chevron JV has contributed over N7 billion to the EGCDF.
“Successive RCD leadership used the funds for implementing various Infrastructural projects and non-infrastructural projects which have added values to people’s lives in EGCDF’s constituent communities.
“The achievements of the EGCDF, over the years, reinforce our belief that a process that is community driven can stimulate quicker community development than processes and system designed without effective participation of community members.
“We appreciate the efforts of the outgoing and past leadership of the RDC for the legacies they left behind in the service to the people,” he said.
Daibo appreciated the Delta government and traditional rulers for creating an enabling environment for the GMoU to thrive.
He said the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) was currently collaborating with the RDC, adding that it had agreed to provide a counterpart funding of 100, 000 dollars to support EGCDF’s environmental and agricultural business initiative.
Mr Jude Ukori, outgoing chairman of EGCDF while delivering his farewell speech, said his administration spent N1.8 billion in four years to execute 49 projects.
He said that 19 of the projects were inherited while the remaining 30 were awarded by his administration.
“When we came on board, we inherited 19 ongoing projects from the previous administrations.
“We are pleased to inform you that all the projects have been completed and commissioned, except one- the Okifamba Staff Quarters that is stalled due to design error and faulty foundation.
“Also, from the inception of this administration till date, we have awarded 30 Infrastructural projects both new and supplementary projects.
“Out of such projects, 24 have been completed and commissioned, two were recently completed and ready for commissioning, while four are ongoing and are at various stages of completion.
“This brings the number of completed and commissioned projects to 165 since the inception of the foundation, while the total infrastructural projects awarded are 172.
“In executing these projects (the 19 inherited and 30 awarded) this administration spent a total of N1 .8 billion within our four years tenure in office,” Ukori said.
The new chairman of EGCDF, Mr Joseph Wuruyai in his inaugural speech, solicited cooperation from all stakeholders.
Wuruyai pledged accountable stewardship by interfacing between CNL and its host communities.
