In fulfillment of its corporate social responsibility to host communities, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) recently commissioned a completed two-kilometre link road project in Ebogoro community and a six-classroom block project at St. Mary’s Primary School, Omoku, all in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State.

In her remarks during the commissioning ceremony, Mrs Dorothy Iyone, representing the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, commended the NAOC/NNPC/PHILIPs joint venture for impacting posstively on the lives of the host communities through accessible road project and enhancement of conducive academic environment.

She noted that the response of NAOC towards its corporate social responsiblility to host communities is worthy of emulation but added that Agip should do more to improve their living standard.

Iyone tasked the respective beneficiary communities to ensure that the commissioned projects are protected from vandalisation and to also live up to its purpose.

NAOC Senior Public Relations Officer Etim Okpoyo, who in dual capacity represented the General Manager, District and Public Relation, Communication and Government Laison Manager, said that the event is in fulfillment of the enshirined terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the respective communities, Ebogoro/Omoku and NAOC and its joint venture partners.

He noted that the link road in Ebogoro and the classroom block project in St. Mary’s Primary School, Omoku will further cement the cordial relationship existing between the host communities and NAOC, assuring that NAOC and its joint venture partners will continue to contribute in the development of the two communities and ONELGA in general through the provision of developmental amenities and award of contracts to indigenous contractors from the communities.Okpoyo pointed out that the road was awarded to an indigenous contractor, NEC Tech System, in August 2006 and was completed in April, 2010. he solicited for the support, co-operation and continued provision of peaceful business environment for the company’s operations in the respective communities.

Earlier in their address, the Ebogoro community through the secretary, Comrade Maduagwu Nkweke, lauded the efforts of NAOC in their contribution towards the provision of rural infrastructure to their host communities, but appealed for the rehabilitation of the moribund pipe borne water system in the area, while pledging the community’s maximum co-operation to the operations of the company in the community.

Similarly, the Vice Chairman, Omoku Central Community Development Committee, Mr. Onyedibia, commended NAOC for enhancing conducive academic environment through the provision of a six classroom block. He observed that the classrooms were not provide with ceiling fans and water bore hole to facilitate the water system facilities in the convenience rooms , while assuring of the security and optimum utilization of the classrooms.