Delta commends Chevron, Itsekiri group for community growth

Delta State Government has commended Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (CNL) and the Itsekiri Oil and Gas Producing/Impacted Communities Development Committee (IPCDC) for developing Itsekiri communities in the area.

The states Ministry of Oil and Gas Commissioner, Prince Emmanuel Angbaduba, gave the commendation, yesterday, at the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the IPCDC, held in Effurun, near Warri, Delta State.

Angbaduba urged relevant stakeholders to create an enabling business environment for the development of the communities to enable the oil and gas businesses to thrive.

The commissioner, represented by Dr. Ikoro Efe, of the Ministry of Oil and Gas, emphasised the importance of a free and secure environment, saying: “For us in government, we are caught between providing an enabling business environment for oil and gas operations and also focusing on developments in the communities. I commend Chevron for supporting the development and the IPCDC for executing so many developmental projects.”

Also speaking at the event, which attracted stakeholders and leaders from constituent communities of the IPCDC, Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), described the AGM as a good omen because it provided the opportunity to observe the principles of transparency and accountability.

He said the achievements of IPCDC reinforced CNL’s belief in the superiority of community-driven developmental model over other models, adding: “We believe a process that is community-driven can stimulate quicker community development than processes and systems designed without the effective participation of community members.”

“The greatest success of the GMoU, however, is in meeting its objectives by making communities take the driver’s seat in their own development and ensuring significant empowerment and capacity-building opportunities come to our people.”