IN a move to create mutual
understanding with host
communities so as to curb the
growing rate of insecurity, oil
giants, Total E&P, yesterday,
met with stakeholders under
its Port Harcourt and offshore
communities jurisdiction.
The meeting, which took place
at the Total Office in Trans-
Amadi, Port Harcourt, brought to
the fore, the need for transparent
dealings with communities,
in terms of Corporate Social
Responsibility, CSR, MoUs, as
well as scholarship awards.
In his Keynote Address, the
Deputy Managing Director,
Port Harcourt District, Mr
Nicolas Brunet, who informed
that this was the third series
of engagement meetings with
host communities, pointed out
that the aim of the meeting
was to look at issues relating to
insecurity, economic situation
and effective communication for
mutual understanding between
host communities and TOEPNG.
Mr Brunet further stressed
that henceforth, TOEPNG will
monitor implementation of
all projects, skills acquisition
and scholarships given to host
communities to ensure that it
gets to the ordinary citizen. He
also called for change of attitude
of host communities as fall in
oil prices coupled with sabotage
have negatively affected their
income.
He said: “The security situation
in our communities is dire,
extraordinary difficult and very
challenging for us as members
of the communities and most
importantly for business. For us
Total, we feel the painful impact
on daily basis. Our facilities are
daily vandalised. This includes
wellheads, pipelines conveying
hydrocarbons (gas and oil), other
assets and personnel.
“These consequences are
also very glaring to us all.
Businesses are packing out of our
communities and in Rivers State.
No new ones are established due
to daily news of these disturbing
events in the state. These are the
main causes of unemployment,
because business that will
generate employment are going
out and closing shops.
“The issues highlighted above
have snowballed into direct
negative consequences, namely
poverty and unemployment in
our communities.”
While informing that
TOEPNG was looking at ways
of diversifying its business,
Brunet called on communities to
always seek peaceful measures
of resolving issues. He thanked
the stakeholders for coming and
encouraged those with good
business plans to take advantage
of TOEPNG skills acquisition
programme package.
In their responses, the
stakeholders, who were drawn
from Opobo/Nkoro, Mgbuesilari,
Rumuogba, Rebisi and Andoni
communities, lauded Total over
the engagement, saying it is first
of its kind.
They, however, …Read More
Source:: Nigerian Pilot
