From Joseph Obukata, Warri
Officials and community leaders at the event
Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company Limited,(NGIC), a subsidiary of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has commissioned and handed over two blocks of 20 lock-up shops to Ugbokodo community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.
The project, commissioned on Tuesday, was part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities to its host communities.
Commissioning the project, yesterday, the Managing Director of NGIC, Engr. Seyi Omotowa, said the project was designed to enhance the continuous smooth working relationship with the host communities.
Omotowa, who was represented by the Executive Director, Business Services, Mr. Kazachiyang Nuhu, noted that NGIC is a socially responsible organisation whose community relations philosophy views the host communities as partners with the desire that they buy into her business opportunities.
He said: “As a gas transportation company with a vision to support the economic growth of Nigeria, our gas pipelines infrastructure network traverses over 2,500km across over 350 host communities in 11 states of the federation.
“Nonetheless, as a responsible and responsive company, we remain committed to developing robust and sustainable relationship with our host communities. Their wellbeing is paramount in our corporate social responsibility thrust, and this is simply why we are here today.
“Therefore, we present to you this two blocks of twenty lock-up shops as a token of our contribution to the development of this community which we cherish dearly as one of our peace-loving communities.”
While soliciting the cooperation and assistance of the community, Omotawa harped on the need for the people to maintain existing peace in order to support the business growth and aspirations of the company for the benefit of the people.
He, however, noted that NGIC will always encourage and appreciate communities that promote peace, dialogue and understanding in the resolution of any dispute. He urged the people of Ugbokodo community to safeguard the project by putting in place adequate security measures to protect it.
Chairman of the Community, Christopher Ofoye thanked the gas firm for the project as well as keeping to their corporate social responsibility to the host community.
He said: “NNPC Gas Infrastructure is indeed, a friend to Ugbokodo community with human meekness compared to other oil companies exploiting us.”
He mentioned some NGIC contributions to Ugbokodo community to include, “Novel Skill Acquisition, Training and Empowerment, Construction and donation of four classroom blocks, local contracts to indigenous contractors etc.”
He urged other companies operating in the area to emulate NGIC by doing the needful to maintaining good relationship with their host.
Ofoye also appealed that the NNPC-NGIC should endeavour to complete the remaining market project based on it’s already submitted architectural drawings, consider their denied slots in body-shops recruitment and engagement of their graduates in Young Professional (YP) programme of NGIC and to inaugurate the Petroleum Industry Act(PIA) team with NGIC Management as host community.
Ofoye also assured NGIC that the people of Ugbokodo Community will put the market to good use and maintained same for the economic purpose for which it is built and donated.
He said: “Ugbokodo community will continually maintain and enhance the existing cordial robust relationship with NGIC as a host community to be reckoned with while counting on our assurances.”
Present at the event were Mrs. Victoria Nwakuche, Manager, Corporate Communications Department, NGIC; the Acting Chairman of Okpe Local Government Council, Mr. John Ofofo; Mr. Phillip Ukeredi, Ugbokodo Community Youth President, Goodluck Etieyibo; Conference Chairman, Chief Dele Ugbokodo,representative of the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Chief Clifford Ikpikpini and his wife, among others.