*COMMUNITIES DEVT: EGCDF COMMISSIONS ELEVEN PEOPLE'S ORIENTED PROJECTS IN GBARAMATU AND EGBEMA KINGDOMS* 

Warri-

The Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation EGCDF Comrade Jude Ukori has called on indigenes of the two Ijaw oil and gas producing Communities of Egbema Gbaramatu Kingdoms in Warri North and Warri South West Council Areas of Delta State to always protect the facilities of Chevron Nigeria Limited in their domain.

Comrade Jude Ukori made the call recently when he led leadership of EGCDF and Government Officials to commissioned harvest of eleven people's oriented projects in Gbaramatu and Egbema Kingdoms of Warri South West and Warri North Local Government Areas of Delta State.

The chairman of EGCDF Comrade Jude Ukori, said in his speech that various Projects which cost Five Hundred and Sixty Four Million, Seven and Six Thousand, Sixty Nine Naira, Twelve kobo (N564,706,069,12) was made possible through the funds from Chevron Nigeria Limited and NNPC joint venture, their sole sponsor.

Comrade Jude Ukori listed the projects to include 300 Meters Concrete Road Project at Benikrukru Community, Staff Quarters Building Project at Azama Community, Three Bedrooms Bungalow Building Project at Olukperebu Community, Cottage Hospital Renovation and Ancillary work at Oporoza Community and the Renovation of Two Concrete Jetties and Construction of Waiting Sheds and Radio House at Kokodiagbene Community, all in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Council Area of Delta State.

Others are 400 Meter Concrete Walkway Project at Opuama Community, Concrete Jetty Project at Abadigbene Community, 250 Meter Concrete Walkway Project at Itagbene Community, Three Bedrooms Bungalow Project at Ogbinbiri Community and Solar Powered Water Project at Adagbarasa Community all in Egbema kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, as well as the Fencing, Construction of Gatehouse and Landscaping of EGCDF Secretariat Complex Effurun - Warri.

The EGCDF Chairman added that the above Projects were amongst the seventeen projects awarded by his administration in September 2020, except for the Adagbarasa and Kokodiagbene Communities Projects that was inherited from the previous Projects cycle.

He disclosed that the projects which was awarded barely six months are all commissioned for the use of the people and to the glory of God.

The EGCDF Chairman also commended all the contractors for delivering the Projects on time and according to job specifications.

He equally implored other contractors whose Projects are at various stages of completion to speed up.

Comrade Jude Ukori however appealed to Communities who are yet to benefit from the 2019 and 2020 Project cycle to kindly keep faith with the foundation adding that continuity is guaranteed.

Comrade Jude Ukori at a Town Hall meeting, told the people of  the Ijaw oil and gas producing Communities of Egbema and Gbaramatu Kingdoms that since Chevron Nigeria Limited is their sole sponsor, they as a people hold it as a responsibility to protect the facilities of Chevron Nigeria Limited.

The EGCDF Chairman who also spoke on the alleged Oil spills involving Chevron Nigeria Limited and Gbaramatu indigenes, appealed to the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom to exercise caution while making their case on the alleged Chevron Nigeria Limited Oil spills.

He equally called for a thorough Joint Investigation Verification JIV between Chevron Nigeria Limited and the affected Communities to be carried out, so as to ascertain the point of the spills.

The Secretary of EGCDF Comrade Sheriff Mulade who also spoke on the Petroleum Industry Bill PIB, explained that the foundation has strongly made case for Host communities to be adequately included in the bill when pass.

For his part, the Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba represented by the Director Monitoring Oil and Gas Dr Josiah Efe lauded the leadership of EGCDF for executing people's oriented projects that will stand the test of time for the people.

He however implored other Regional Development Councils to emulate the Ijaw RDC who has been complementing State Government developmental strides in the state.

In his speech, the General Manager Policy Government and Public Affairs Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr Esimaje Brikinn expressed his pleasure to be part of the commissioning and handover of the eleven people's oriented projects which was completed by EGCDF under the Global Memorandum of Understanding.

Mr Brikinn who was represented by the Area Manager Policy Government and Public Affairs Chevron Nigeria Limited Mr Sam Daibo described the achievement as a triumph of partnership, adding that EGCDF which is funded by NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, in pattering with the Delta State Government and other stakeholders has executed these projects to improve the quality of life of the people in the two Ijaw Kingdoms.

He however disclosed that CNL has invested over twenty six billion naira (N26 billion) in the GMOU since its inception in 2005.

He further pointed out that the investment has led to roughly 600 programs such as scholarships, school infrastructures, medical facilities, housing, agriculture amongst others

The leadership of EGCDF and Government Officials earlier paid a homage to the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oboro Gbaraun the second as well as the Egbema Recency Council to received royal blessings.