The Nation Newspaper

Tag: communities

  • Bayelsa communities shut oil wells

    Members of the Egbebiri communities in Biseni clan, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, have seized the Idu oil field belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

    It was learnt that the field is made up of about five oil wells numbered as 3, 6, 8, 11 and 12.

    The Egbebiri communities were said to have shut the oil wells over the failure of Agip to satisfy some of their demands.

    “Five oil wells operated by Agip in the company’s Idu field in Biseni have been shut down by community folks. Wellheads 3, 6, 8, 11 and 12 have been shut since Sunday night,” a source who pleaded for anonymity said.

    The communities reportedly took the decision after their entreaties to the company fell on deaf ears.

    They were said to have written letters to the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield and the Department of State Security (DSS) to inform them about their disagreement with Agip.

    One of the community leaders, who identified himself as Solomon, confirmed that the communities shut down the wellheads because of the company’s inability to meet their demands.

    “We shut down the wellheads because they refused to meet our demands,” he said.

    Solomon said they asked Agip to solve lack of electricity in their communities by giving them a generator.

    “The generator they gave us since 2003 has spoilt. Our community has been thrown into darkness since then,” he added.

    According to him, they also wanted Agip to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them and to change the name of the oil wells to their community’s name.

    Said he: “We have been talking to them about this, but they have done nothing. They should call for real meetings with the manager of Agip.

    “Our wellheads are numbered in Idu name. They should change it to our community’s name.

    “They are paying for only four wellheads instead of six. We won’t release the wellheads until they call us to a meeting and resolve the issue.”

  • ‘We are committed to developing rural communities’

    The chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba has re-affirmed his commitment to the provision of infrastructural facilities for residents of rural communities in order to enable them to develop and have improved living standard.

    Speaking with journalists in Abuja Jiba revealed that when he assumed duty in 2010 as the council’s chief, he made a promise to the people that, with the mandate given to him, he would not disappoint them, adding that as the council chairman; he will try to meet their immediate demands. He confessed that God has been helping him to fulfill the promises.

    The council chief, who is also the chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) FCT chapter, said since he made that promise to the residents, he has not deviated from his responsibility as the council boss, saying that improving the living standard of people at the grassroots is his priority.

    “I remember in May 20 this year when we celebrated one year in office of my second tenure, we inaugurated many projects, and at the same time distributed about 10 vehicles to the Nigerian Police Divisions of the AMAC.

    “We have started with this number; we will do more for the rest 22 police divisions in AMAC.

    “We also inaugurated a functional healthcare centre in Waru community under Kabusa Ward. We equally inaugurated one of the 1.2 kilometre asphalt road at Abuja Mechanic Village. We sunk a borehole at Area 1, Section 1, at Tudun Wada, where I completed my secondary education.

    “I have laid a legacy by building staff quarters for teachers and there are ongoing constructions of Jiwa Township and Damagaza Roads. It can be confirmed if there is any community that we have not sited a project during this tenure. We will do more in the rural communities because they deserve better things,” he said.

  • Foundation lifts communities,the less-privileged

    Foundation lifts communities,the less-privileged

    Today being his birthday, instead of Comrade Ogah partying with friends and family at home, he decided to spend it with the less-privileged in his community.”

    Those were the words of Senator Emmanuel Onwe while inaugurating a 300KVA transformer at Amagu Ikwo in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    The transformer was one of the new projects executed and donated to various communities in Ikwo Local Government Area by Comrade Chinedu Ogah (OON), founder of Chiboy Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as part of activities to mark his 38th birthday.

    Ogah, who was accompanied by former Senator representing Ebonyi Central, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, former member representing Ohaozara/Ivo/Onicha Federal Constituency, Darlington Okereke, top government functionaries at the state and local government levels toured round the council to inaugurate the projects executed by his foundation.

    The projects carried out and donated to various individuals and communities were two 300KVA transformers in Agubia Ikwo and Igwelodohia Amagu Ikwo, three boreholes and two town halls and cultural centres, among others.

    He also donated 200 bags of cement for the building of a modern town hall in Nwakpu Alike community to be named after the state governor, Martin Elechi.

    Receiving the team at Nwakpu Alike, a community leader and proprietor of the famous Folks Technical College Ikwo, Chief Francis Igwe described Comrade Ogah as a peacemaker who has brought peace to Ndufu-Alike and the entire Ikwo Local Government Area.

    Leaving Nwakpu Alike community after inaugurating the projects, the team moved to St Theresa’s Catholic Church for the inauguration of a borehole after which a 300KVA transformer was inaugurated at Agubia community.

    Comrade Ogah described the community as the engine room of Ikwo politics, stressing that the provision of the transformer was a fulfilment of a promise he made to the community in 2011.

    After the inaugurating the project at Agubia community, the team proceeded to Igwelodoha-Amagu where another 300KVA transformer was also inaugurated in addition to a mini-bridge known as Apina which was also inaugurated to ease the suffering of the people of the area who have been having trouble crossing the river.

    At Ohatekwe, a borehole and a town hall executed by the foundation was inaugurated, even as a medical team was on ground to give free medical treatment to members of the community.

    Comrade Ogah explained that the free medical treatment was simultaneously ongoing at three different locations in the area.

    Another town hall and borehole was also inaugurated at Ndiofoke-Amagu by the team after which it proceeded to Item-Amagu cultural centre for the grand finale of the event.

    At Item-Amagu cultural centre, 20 wheelchairs were given to the physically challenged while six motorcycles were given out to some youths to empower them, while one Mr. Friday Nnabu was given a Toyota L300.

    Also, 35 sewing machines were given out to women who have been trained in fashion designing.

    The widows in the area were not left out as they received 100 bags of rice, wrappers, and cash.

    Speaking at the event, Comrade Ogah revealed that the foundation was determined to give hope to the hopeless and to inspire those that want to be inspired.

    He also disclosed that his foundation has secured job opportunities for members of the community in both the state and federal civil service, including recruitment of 215 youths into the Nigerian Police in the last recruitment exercise with the help of the governor.

    “We have, in the past, built 120 bungalows for widows in the state among other achievements.

    “What matters in life is the legacy one left behind. That is why I preferred to celebrate with the less-privileged people in order to alleviate their suffering as much as we can. We have no choice but to help them,” he said.

  • Oil firm to partner host communities

    Despite many firms poor showing in image branding, Seplat Petroleum Development Company achieved results in the first phase of its brand placement and capacity developement.

    Following its listing on the London and Lagos stock exchanges, the company has said it is ready to project its brand and establish itself as a global player through corporate social investments in its host communities.

    Its Chairman, Ambrosie Orjiako, at a briefing, said: “Seplat is a Nigerian brand and we are proud of our Nigerian heritage. We are a global brand and we are listed on the London stock Exchange. In terms of branding, we have distinguished ourself from others in terms of corporate governance, constitution of our board; we have best management team you can ever have in the world; it’s a world-class team which gave us an edge against competition.”

    On the challenges facing the sector in image branding, Orjiako said the company is engaging its communities to enhance success as a socially responsible oil firm.

    He said: “The oil sector has never had it good when it comes to image branding. As a result, the way we engage our community is very strong. Our host community engagement has been at the foundation of our success from inception. We remain committed to full implementation of our ‘SEPLAT model’ of proactive community engagement in the Niger Delta and wherever we operate. An example of this is our Global Memorandum of Understanding with the host communities. We have created the platform for economic prosperity in the communities, a ‘win-win’ strategy. In addition, we are driving various other CSR programmes in our areas of operation to encourage capacity building and economic empowerment, especially among women and the youth.

    “To help empower and build strong relationships with the local communities, we have also employed various community contractors to provide oil and gas services. In all, we have strived to create a platform for economic prosperity in the communities.”

    Recently, the World Economic Forum named Seplat, a Global Growth Company. With this recognition, the firm joins a vibrant community of the world’s most dynamic, influential and high-growth companies.

    Companies are judged on their compliance with set criteria: growth, global corporate citizenship, executive leadership and impact on the competitive landscape of their region or industry.

    However, Orjiako declared Seplat will strive to maintain its leadership position in the market and remain focus in the face of competition.

    “The future of our company is very bright. We shall strive to maintain our leadership position in the indigenous E & P industry in Nigeria and our focus in following our growth strategy to seek to ensure delivery of our commitment not only to capital growth but also to remain profitable and dividend paying. We shall seek to deliver tangible rewards to all stakeholders,” he noted.

    The company has already paid a dividend of N16.50 per share for the 2013 financial year.

  • Chevron’s N50m projects excite communities, govt in Delta

    Chevron’s N50m projects excite communities, govt in Delta

    It was harvest of projects across Delta State last week as Chevron Nigeria Limited, operators of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, inaugurated  developmental projects worth over N50 million in Edjeba and Ubeji communities in Warri South West and Osubi in Okpe local government areas of the state.

    The projects included a solar-powered borehole at Edjeba Primary School; two 500KVA electricity transformers at Osubi Community and a block of six classrooms for Egharegbemi Primary School Ubeji.

    Chevron also partnered with some of its employees to donate books and electronic teaching aids including laptops, projectors and electricity generating sets to five schools in Delta State. The benefiting schools are Ogbe Secondary School, Ekpan Secondary School, Alegbo Secondary School, Ugborikoko Secondary School and Ugbmro Secondary School all in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking at one of the project sites, the Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovouzorie Macaulay, praised the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for the commitment to partnering with the government to provide infrastructure and facilities for socio-economic development of communities.

    Macaulay, who was represented by Mr Vincent Omorie (Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Affairs), noted that the gesture by the JV partners supports the state government’s agenda of infrastructure and human capital development.

    The SSG revealed that the provision of potable water for the school children was aimed at sustaining the healthy living of the “leaders of tomorrow,” adding that the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan administration had done a lot to improve infrastructure and facilities in its schools.

    Also at the events at Ubeji and Ogbe Secondary School, the Delta State Commissioner for Education (Primary and Basic) Prof. Patrick Muobuoghare, thanked the JV partners for partnering with the state government for educational development.

    He called on other well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to emulate the gesture of Chevron and its employees and contribute to development of educational infrastructure and human capital in the state.

    Muoboghare, who was represented by the Chief Inspectors of Basic and Secondary Education in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas, Dr. Michael Emeshili and Mr. Solomon Onojaiyefe respectively, noted that Chevron has been in the forefront in supporting government’s programmes in the education sector and has initiated several activities to help contribute to educational development in Delta State.

    He urged members of the community and the schools’ management to put the facilities provided for them to good use, protect them and to ensure that they are maintained for the betterment of the school children and the communities as a whole.

    The General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Mr. Deji Haastrup, who was represented by Mr. Trust Inimgba,  PGPA Superintendent in Chevron’s Warri, noted that the company was committed to enhancing partnership with relevant stakeholders to achieve the goal of sustainable development of communities around its areas of operations in the Niger Delta.

    He noted that the company also believes that education is the key to national and societal development, stressing that it was that belief that informed CNL’s commitment to educational development as one of the thematic areas in its social performance programmes.

  • ‘Town unions grow communities’

    The three tiers of government have been urged to partner with town unions because they are agents of community development.

    The President-General of the Association of Imo State Indigenous Town Unions, Chief Emeka Diwe, gave the advice at the inauguration of Owerri, Imo State, zone chapter of the Association of Indigenous Town Unions, Aba, Abia State. He said the object of town unionism is grassroots development.

    “Town unions are the real agents of development which all levels of government should partner with for the welfare of the people. There is no doubt that town unions have fast tracked development of their respective communities. Nobody can claim ignorance of the fact that town unions in many areas of Igbo land established primary and secondary schools, community markets, institution of scholarship schemes for indigent students, maintenance of roads, law and order within their jurisdiction. In fact, at the end of civil war in 1970, town union gave hope to the Igbos. So, town unions are synonymous with development in Igbo land.

    “Town Unions have through various ways offered support to our people who were affected in the crisis in the North East and other crisis ridden areas. So, the importance of town unions in community development cannot be over-emphasised.”

    He debunked reports that town unions are political structures which are set up for the purposes of election.

    “Town Union is political, but not partisan. Town union members can belong to any political party of their choice but we don’t support any political party. Town Union is the only identity of the Igbo man that has stood the test of time. I assure you that it is the most democratic structure found in Igbo land. Town Unions can guide members on political decisions, particularly the election of quality people in leadership positions in the society. For instance, we have been sensitizing our members on the need to shun money politics. This is because the person who gives you money to be elected and runs to Abuja only to return during the next elections is not fit to be called a representative. So, we have a duty to enlighten our people to support people who are conscious of the development. Town Unions are only for development. This is why we say; Town Union, Development to the Grassroots,” he said.

    Earlier in his address, Chief Whip of Owerri zone chapter in Aba, Dr. Bartholomew Eze noted the responsibilities of town unions in mobilizing and enlightening the citizenry for sustainable community development as well as the development of structures for improving the quality of life of local communities in Imo state and her indigenes.

    Eze commended the contributions of the President General in championing the course of town unionism in Imo State and beyond and described him as a man endowed with rare leadership qualities.

  • Experts seek firms’, communities’ partnership to check pipeline vandalism

    Experts seek firms’, communities’ partnership to check pipeline vandalism

    To reduce youth restiveness and attacks on crude oil installations, stakeholders have advocated a synergy between the oil producing firms and their host communities on how to create employment.

    The stakeholders, who spoke to The Nation in Abuja, include the Head, Re-integration Department, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Lawrence Pepple, the Acting Group General Manager National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Fidel Pepple, the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell Petroleum, Igo Weli and Vice President, Development, Delta Afrik Engineering Limited, Tunde Elesin.

    Pepple urged oil operators and the host communities to create sustainable employment opportunities for youths to check pipeline vandalism, stressing that the government alone cannot provide everything for the populace.

    He advised the host communities and local and foreign oil producers to form a synergy to help youths.

    On amnesty programmes, Pepple said the government has helped in developing the skills of militants, and urged the communities and the oil firms to assist youths to prevent them from becoming security risks.

    He said: “Creation and sustainability of empowerment opportunities between the host communities and oil and gas operators would help in preventing pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and other untoward developments affecting the industry.

    In order not to go back to where we are coming from, such as incessant attacks on oil installations, the youths need to channel their energy to better and productive use.’’

    Weli said opportunities should be created for the contractors in the host communities to improve their fortune and that of the oil exploration and production services’ firms.

    He said Shell signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with contractors to enable them to supply vessels for the company. Shell, he said, holds meetings with contractors in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to engage them more in productive activities.

    “We established a fund for the host communities to enable them access money for operations. The fund has prevented the host communities from approaching the banks for credit. We went to Bonny and set up vocational centres for the youths. We have helped in getting $1billion from banks to assist contractors in the communities. Over $700million has been disbursed. Based on this, the communities and the oil firms are working to build the future of one another.’’

    Elesin said mutual trust between the oil companies and the host communities would help in growing the industry.

    He urged the two groups to work together to create opportunities in the area of youth empowerment. The communities, he said, could come up with skills acquisition programmes, and further solicit supports from the government.

  • Life is now beautiful for Edo’s ‘cursed’ communities

    Life is now beautiful for Edo’s ‘cursed’ communities

    For many years, people living in communities, such as l Anenegbette, Udaba, Okpekpe, Imiegba and Imiakubu, in Edo State were told a ‘terrible lie’. The lie was that it was difficult or perhaps impossible to construct access roads to their communities. They were labeled ‘cursed’ for living in areas difficult to attract developmental projects. The people had to accept their fate waiting for a miracle.

    For those at Anegbette and environs in Estako Central, their prayers is for the rains not to fall at all because they will be cut-off by flood. The road to their communities was swampy with local two local bridges constructed on two rivers. They usually had to wait for the dry season before they take their dead ones home for burial.

    Okpekpe, Imiegba and Imiakubu are located on mountainous terrain. Rich individuals from the communities choose to rather build houses at Auchi, headquarters of Estako West because they could not get to their communities. It was in fact not possible to drive through communities in the three Estako local government areas.

    Little wonder the villagers who were returning from farms brought out their drums to celebrate the unscheduled visit of Governor Adams Oshiomhole who was inspecting some completed and on-going road projects across the three local government areas of Etsako West, Etsako East and Etsako Central.

    In Estako West, the governor inspected Council Road, Iyofa Road, Okotokwe Road, Iyekhe Road and Jattu-Elele Road. Most of the roads were completed with side drains to help fight erosion in Auchi. Oshiomhole took time to educate the people on why they should not dump debris in the drains.

    He told the jubilant crowd that he was in the area to see work progress on the projects, adding, “People can see what we are doing on the major roads but can’t see what we are doing in the villages and traditional areas where there were no roads. We decided that to fight erosion in Auchi, any road we are doing must include drainage so that water can flow in a coordinated manner”.

    A woman who gave her name as Aminatu Aliu said they didn’t knew the Okotokwe road could be made accessible.

    Governor Oshiomhole was at Etsako East where he inspected the Ayogwiri- Apana-Imiegba-Imiakebu road and the Apana-Okpekpe road. The roads are complete with bridges and water was flowing from one the rocks through which the road cuts through.

    The residents of Imiakubu ran out of their houses when they saw the governor’s convoy to welcome him to their community. Women sang songs of praises which the governor danced to.

    Zunetu Usman said: “Look at our Imiegba. Our village is now a town. The governor has turn it to London. What we need now is water. You are a good governor and we have not seen a man like. Others said the road was impossible but now it has been done. Our people can now come home without stopping at Auchi.”

    A local musician at Imiakubu, who gave his name as Anthony Omokheki, urged the governor to prepare to go Abuja to extend the good work to the rest of the country. He urged the governor to extend the road construction to Okpella, a neighbouring community adding that what they need now is water.

    An elated Oshiomhole who directed the construction of a roundabout at the end of the Okpekpe road promised to sink a borehole in Okpekpe so that the people may have access to clean, potable water.

    He said: “I came here to assess the extent of work. When we started the road construction, people thought it will not be completed. Any good thing in man’s heart, God has a way of starting and bringing it to an end.

    “Today, I am glad that the road project has been completed on schedule. You can see the quality of the road, so by the grace of God, we will bring more development.”

    The Onwuwueko of Okpekpe, His Royal Highness Peter Osigbemhe, thanked the Governor for cutting rocks to construct road to their communities.

    He said “We are happy that you are in Okpekpe today for the road construction which has been realised and the renovation of schools which is also on–going. We thank you because you have done so well. This road has been a problem for long as past government shied away from constructing it due to the difficult terrain, but you have come and conquered this difficulty and we are indeed grateful to you that we can drive to our homes on smooth, motorable roads.”

    At Etsako Central, Oshiomhole inspected the Ugbekpe-Ekperi-Udaba-Anegbete Road said the road was redesigned and reconstructed following the overflow of the River Niger that caused flooding in the area.

    Oshiomhole told the people the road was redesigned to withstand flooding.

    The Clan Head of Anegbette town, HRH Ogbodaga Yakubu, thanked the Governor for the infrastructural development in Edo North and his effort at alleviating the plight of the rain storm victims in Aniegbette and its environs.

    He noted that people of the area are elated that they can drive to their communities and that already a factory has been sited in the community as a result of the good road.

  • Communities urged to set up vigilance groups

    Communities urged to set up vigilance groups

    As a result of the recent attack on residents of Kujekwa community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by some suspected gunmen during which one person die and 50 cows stolen, the chairman Mr. Shaban Tete, has advised the people to set up vigilance groups to prevent future occurrence.

    Tete, who stated this during a media interaction with newsmen, said it had become necessary for people in the community to come together and set up a vigilance group in order to checkmate activities of criminal. This, he said, is because the police alone cannot fight crime.

    According to the council chief, though there are special security agents trained to tackle crimes, members of communities should see security as a collective responsibility which should not be left in the hands of the government alone.

    He said forming a vigilance group among the people of the community and other communities will, no doubt, go a long way in checkmating cases of stealing and the Fulani clashes in the area.

    “The leadership of the council is seriously worried over the recent attack on my people at Kujekwa village where gunmen invaded the village with sophisticated weapons and killed one person while over 50 cows were stolen. I think the other alternative to put an end to such occurrence is for the village head and elders

    to come together to see how the people can form vigilance group in the community, so that we can see how we will support them,” he said.

    He urged residents to expedite action on the setting up of vigilance group so that the council would see how best to assist the group with equipment and monthly stipend that can motivate them in the discharge of their duties to the community.

    He revealed that the council’s leadership has written a letter to the Commissioner of Police of the FCT, Mr. Femi Ogunbayode on the need to establish a police post at the community to stand as primary option in checkmating criminal activities in the area, which he said an approval has already been given to the deployment of policemen in the area.

    Recall that, on December 30, last year, some suspected gunmen numbering about 20 with AK 47 rifles invaded Kujekwa community in Kuje, killed one person, burgled some shops and stole 50 cows from the community.

  • Communities urged to set up vigilance groups

    Following attack on residents of Kujekwa community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by some suspected gunmen which claimed one life and 50 cows stolen, the chairman of the council, Mr. Shaban Tete, has advised people of the area and neighbouring communities to set up vigilance groups to forestall future occurrence.

    Tete, who stated this during a media interaction with newsmen, said it had become necessary for people in the community to come together and set up a vigilance group in order to checkmate activities of criminals. This, he said, is because the police alone cannot fight crime.

    According to the council chief, though there are special security agents trained to tackle crimes, members of communities should see security as a collective responsibility which should not be left in the hands of the government alone.

    He said forming a vigilance group among the people of the community and other communities will, no doubt, go a long way in checkmating cases of stealing and the Fulani clashes in the area.

    “The leadership of the council is seriously worried over the recent attack on my people at Kujekwa village where gunmen invaded the village with sophisticated weapons and killed one person while over 50 cows were stolen. I think the other alternative to put an end to such occurrence is for the village head and elders to come together to see how the people can form vigilance group in the community, so that we can see how we will support them,” he said.

    He urged residents to expedite action on the setting up of vigilance group so that the council would see how best to assist the group with equipment and monthly stipend that can motivate them in the discharge of their duties to the community.

    He revealed that the council’s leadership has written a letter to the Commissioner of Police of the FCT, Mr. Femi Ogunbayode, on the need to establish a police post at the community to stand as primary option in checkmating criminal activities in the area, which he said an approval has already been given to the deployment of policemen in the area.

    Recall that, on December 30, last year, some suspected gunmen numbering about 20 with AK 47 rifles invaded Kujekwa community in Kuje, killed one person, burgled some shops and stole 50 cows from the community.