Royal fathers, community chiefs, women and youths of three communities of Ugama Ekede, Asuk-ama and Asukoyet, were over the weekend overwhelmed with joy as the Host Community Development Trust, (HCDT) and Green Energy International Limited, (GEIL) and Lekoil Oil and Gas Investment Limited – Joint Ventures arrived the community to flagged off the construction of some projects under the 5- year Community Development Plan( CDP)
The projects are from the 3% Operating Expense, (OPEX) stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for companies operating in oil producing communities for the development of their host communities.
The projects to be executed in the first phase of the implementation of the 5- years plan include, one kilometer road leading into Ugama Ekede, Scholarship and bursary for students in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education, in the host communities, a Town Hall and a Box Culvert in Asuk-ama and a road projects in Asukoyet.
An overjoyed paramount ruler of Asukoyet, His Royal Highness, King Brown Asuk, the Okama VI of Asukoyet, commended the Joint Venture operators and the HCDT for the road project awarded to his community stating that the absence of all-season motorable roads in the community has been a major challenge for his people.
King Brown said the lack of road has affected the social and economic life of the people, adding that cars and tippers avoid coming into 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 Otakikpo JV is trying. The present road we are flagging off now is funds contributed by the Green Energy/Lekoil JV to the community through the HCDT. 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 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. Gad Harry Ekpirikpo, urged the contractor to ensure that the road was delivered according to the expected standard and in record time.
Hon. Ekpirikpo noted that at the end of the road project the community would want the HCDT 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 start 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.”
The Women of Ugama Ekede who spoke through their leader, Mrs Cordilia Samuel Elijah, also expressed their pleasure with the flagging off of the road project in the area, but insisted that it must be the major road leading to the community.
She said it was the first time the riverine community would see a tarred road, urging the companies to ensure that they construct the road based on specifications.
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”.
The HCDT under the Green Energy International Limited and Lekoil JV, on their part promised that it would not disappoint the communities in the proposed projects in their areas.
The chairman Board of Trustees, BoT, of the HCDT, Nathan Asuk, in his statement at the flag off ceremony 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 event, promised the communities that the project would be delivered based on specification and on record time.
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 open to receive your reports.
Also represented at the event was New Nigeria Foundation, NNF, partners to the JV. The company conducted the Need Assessment in the communities.
Mr.Eyitope Aremu, speaking on behalf of NNF, charged the communities to shun any form of disagreement and allow peace in order for the projects to be completed.
Mr. Aremu, who led the Needs Assessment processes in the communities, said that, as stipulated in the PIA, the projects to be executed were chosen by the communities through a transparent process.
Speaking at Ugama Ekede Community, he 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.
He urged them to report the contractor advising that they should ensure that peace reigns in the community so that the projects would be completed.
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 a processes to put in place before implementation starts. All the set laws were followed so that nobody goes against the law”.
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