By Aderemi Bamgbose
The Ilaje Rural Development Advocacy Committee (IRDC) has advocated peaceful co-existence between oil producing companies and host communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Mr Roland Akintoye, the IRDC Chairman, gave this advice while speaking at a town hall meeting on Thursday with residents of riverine Akinsolu community in Ode-Ugbo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IRDC is a community-based organisation established in 2005 to support oil exploration companies in bringing succor to residents of host communities.
A Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) between NNPC/Chevron Nigeria Limited and the state government, which gave birth to IRDC, allowed oil communities the ownership and management of various projects solely funded by NNPC/Chevron.
Akintoye, who was represented by IRDC Secretary, Mr Adedeji Ikuepenikan, said that the peaceful coexistence of all the parties would further engender vast developmen in the riverine area.
He further explained that the oil giant has contributed immensely to the development of the area by sponsoring developmental projects as well as empowerment and medical programmes for host communities through the IRDC.
“We need to tell our people that the era of money sharing (peace bonus) is over as the GMoU signed by the state government and NNPC/Chevron is to fund projects and programmes to bring succor to residents.
“We have commissioned our permanent secretariat, awarded scholarships to students and distributed note and text books to primary and secondary schools.
“We have distributed fishing gears and safety kits to fishermen and women, organise free medical outreach and as well conducted skills acquisition training for women and young girls.
“We have also commissioned two solar powered energy cabins to supply electricity to 200 residents in Awoye and Odofado communities and the Mother and Child hospital will be commissioned soon,” Akintoye said.
Chief Peace Happiness, the Baale of Awoye community, while responding on behalf of the host communities charged the oil company to continue to foster cordial relationship with host communities.
He said that the host communities would ensure protection of installations of oil companies, saying that they must also abide by all agreement signed with the government to ameliorate their sufferings.
“We plead with NNPC/Chevron to relate with the government to solve the ocean surge which is a great challenge to us and other meaningful projects that will be beneficial to us,” Happiness said.
(NAN)
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