Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, Utieyinoritsẹtsọla Emiko, has charged Chevron Nigeria Limited to turn Warri to Dubai, development-wise, in the shortest possible time.
He gave the charge as Chevron inaugurated the long-awaited Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Warri Coastal Host Communities Development Trust, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), to ensure economic and sustainable development of host communities.
Represented by the Oshodi of Warri, Chief Anthony Onuwage, the Olu lamented that Warri kingdom remained largely undeveloped despite the huge oil and gas it produces.
According to him, the Niger Delta region is in dire need of development, urging the BoT to hit the ground running by laying the foundation for speedy development of the coastal oil communities in the kingdom.
He urged the trustees not to be distracted in their pivotal assignment by petty community issues, but to focus on the larger picture of development of the Warri coastal communities, which he said needed modern amenities.
Chevron’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, who inaugurated the BoT, urged the members to work with the firm as partners in their operation for the benefit of all stakeholders. Brikinn was represented by the Warri Area Manager, Public Affairs and Field Operations, Momodu Rilwanu.
He said: “With the enactment of the PIA, a regulatory framework is now provided to enable the development of our host communities. Chevron Nigeria Limited has, therefore, transited from the era of GMoU/OMoU to the PIA. As mandated by the Act, the vehicle of engagement between settlor and host communities is the HCDT.
“Today’s event is a fulfilment of that requirement and serves to assure that communities around where we operate continue to enjoy the benefits of economic development. Chevron is in support of this and other industry improvement initiatives by the government of Nigeria and we are committed to fulfilling all our regulatory obligations as we operationalise the HCDTs and continue the mutually beneficialt has existed between us and our host communities.”
The BoT Chairman, Ikolo Emmanuel, pledged to attract development to the host communities and carry everyone along at all times, promising to discharge their mandate in accordance with the law, and to develop their communities, based on needs assessment and sustain engagement with companies operating in their communities.
