As part of its corporate social responsibility, the Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited is partnering about 120 indigenous technology contractors in 27 councils of Imo State to showcase their capacities and capabilities in economic and social development projects.
Vice Chairman/Managing Director of Agip, Massimo Insulla, who made the disclosure at the opening of its Indigenous Technology Forum and Exhibition for its Deep Offshore indigenous contractors held at the New Concorde Hotels, Owerri, capital of Imo State, noted that the firm recently organized training programme for 90 contractors in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State and another training for 60 in the same category on Succession Planning in Asaba, Delta State, among others.
He said about 360 persons had been trained by the firm under its Vendors Development Programme, 250 under the Vendors Upgrade Awareness and 120 in Vendors Exhibition, Gas Closure and Opportunities Engagement.
Insulla said Agip would continue to partner with the host communities and would diversify into other areas of capacity building development in the small and medium businesses and community content.
He said apart from pioneering the JV Independent Power Project (IPP) and construction of the Power Plant in Okpai and delivery of 480 MVA into national grid to stimulate economy and create jobs, the company would continue to play a leading role in the provision of water, health facilities, education, social infrastructure, employment, capacity building, skills acquisition, micro credits and green river projects, among others.
Governor Rochas Okorocha, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Udo Agoha, said he was aware that the company was one of the oil firms operating in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Councils, noting that the relationship between the duo had been cordial.
Akwa Ibom Youths Give Mobil 7 Days Ultimatum To Implement Oil Spill MoU
For refusing to honour the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with stakeholders of the host community of Esit Eket, angry youths have given Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited, seven days ultimatum to implement the agreement or face serious actions that could cripple oil and gas activities in the area.
Addressing Journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital yesterday, the President of Esit Eket Frontline Youths Movement (EEFYM), Comrade Akan Etteudo, explained that Mobil had refused to honour the MoU it reached with the community regarding the deployment of oil spill compensation funds to the development of educational infrastructures in Esit Eket.
“It is with displeasure that we resort to use this medium, on behalf of the entire youths of Esit Eket to press home our grievances.
As youths of the host community we believe in peaceful co-existence as violence does not does not bring anything good”, he lamented.
He recalled that a number of schools scattered around Esit Eket were brought down for renovation in line with the earlier agreement that compensation arising from the oil spill that devastated the area should be deployed to developing educational infrastructures in the area.
“In November 2015, your oil organization entered into an agreement with our community to make available some amount of money to cushion the effect deadly effects of unchecked oil spillage, which came in the form of developmental projects.
“And paltry sums were made available with n assurance from company that the balance would be paid to enable the local contractors and resource persons complete the job. But up till now, your company had failed to honour the agreement, forcing the contractors to abandon the contracts”.
Ahead of the West African Examination Schools’ Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) billed for November\December, 2016, the Esit Eket chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed dismay at what it described as Mobil’s non commitment to the project.
A statement by the Esit Eket branch Chairman of NUT, Comrade Effiong Asuquo Ekong, lamented that students have been learning under the trees following the demolition of their schools by contractors hired by Mobil fix the projects.
According to Ekong, “our inquires from various contractors revealed that the financiers, Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited to release the third milestone payment to contractors to enable them complete the projects on time was not forthcoming, which is one of the reasons they abandoned the project”.
Meanwhile, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), committed to alleviating poverty in the Niger Delta has demanded for the immediate implementation of the oil spill compensation deal Mobil reached with the affected community.
Network Advancement Programme for Poverty and Disaster Risks Reduction (NAPDRR), in a statement made available to reporters in Uyo, the State capital, decried Mobil’s action against its host community, warning that any ripples effect of such negligence could aggravate tension in the area that may lead to unpleasant consequences.
According to Hon. Al Mustaper Emem Edoho, the President General of the NGO, Mobil should honour the agreement in the best interest of primary and secondary schools pupils, “who are the future leaders”.
“Our concern that is very worrisome to us, is that most of the school children their classes lectures under the trees, one month after resumption of academic session.
As a corporate socially responsibly company, it is against the UNESCO Convention to subject schools’ children to such inhuman conditions”, he stressed.
Efforts to speak with the Manager in-charge of Government and Public Affairs at Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT), Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Regina Udobong, could yield any response because failure to pick calls sent to her.
