Oil & Energy
117 Rivers Communities Get N5bn GMoU Fund
No fewer than 125 communities in 12 cluster development areas in Rivers State have so far received a whopping N5billion for the development of their communities as part of the implementation of the innovative Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU).
This is part of the N7billion disbursed by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) for the sustainable development of host communities under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) implementation in the Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.
These were disclosed last Friday in Port Harcourt at the first-ever GMoU Fair for Rivers State communities, organized to showcase the individual community achievements in the implementation of the innovative development concept.
Of the 12 cluster areas, only 10 are active with about 117 communities, and have got the lion share of the development fund, released directly into their bank accounts by SPDC for the execution of people-oriented projects and programmes, initiated and implemented by the communities.
The active cluster development areas that have benefited from the funding over the last four years are Akuku Toru with five communities; Andoni with 20; while three are in Degema 1; 30 in Degema 3; nine in Etche 1; 12 in Etche 2; nine in Greater Port Harcourt City; four in Shell Industrial Area; 12 in Ikwerre; and three in Shell Residential Area.
Available statistics indicate that the Akuku Toru Cluster has received N1,036,661,677.33 and spent N795,187,665.10 on 45 completed infrastructure projects, nine human capacity development programmes and 12 economic empowerment schemes as well as 19 ongoing infrastructure projects, two human capacity and another two economic empowerment schemes; while Andoni has got N139,750,000, and spent N63,383,570 on infrastructure projects and N33,356,963.05 on human capital development and economic empowerment schemes in four years.
Both cluster communities also have the sum of N158, 217,035.45 and N30, 917,506.97 unspent funds in their respective bank accounts.
Available statistics indicate that the three Degema 1communities have received N1, 215, 810, 893, and have expended N1, 006, 681, 319 on 36 completed and 17 ongoing infrastructure projects, human capital development and economic empowerment schemes, including 11 overseas scholarship programmes in the United States; while the 30 Degema 3 communities have so far got N2, 076, 666, 666.70 and pumped N1, 797, 652, 821.71 on 49 completed infrastructure projects and 52 human capital development programmes as well as 14 ongoing infrastructure projects and 39 economic empowerment schemes.
Both Degema 1 and 3 have N209, 129, 374, and N366, 242, 721.70 as balance in their separate bank accounts for the execution of more development projects in their communities.
In the Degema 3 soft programmes portfolio, 531 indigenes have received local tertiary and or secondary scholarships, paid bursary to 1,730 persons, equipped 368 unskilled indigenes with sustainable skills, empowered 663 with micro credit loans, sponsored one person on overseas scholarship and created transport scheme for 108 indigenes of the cluster.
The Tide investigations show that the nine communities in the Etche 1 cluster area received a total sum of N590, 306, 088, out which they spent N520, 888, 999.33 on 85 projects, out of which 69 have been completed while 16 are ongoing. In this project template are 24 human capital development programmes, 13 electricity and 18 water schemes, 14 infrastructure projects and 16 economic empowerment schemes.
Whereas the 12 communities in Etche 2 cluster area have so far received N435, 639, 610 and expended N343, 896, 077. 39 on 34 completed infrastructure projects and 12 ongoing ones, in addition to 21 human capital development programmes and two economic empowerment schemes; the nine communities in Greater Port Harcourt City have got N320, 032, 073, and spent N278, 712, 826 on no fewer than 35 projects. Both Etche 2 and GPHC clusters also have bank accounts balance amounting to N91, 743, 532.61 and N41, 319, 247, respectively, for more people-oriented development projects.
The Tide also found that the four IA Cluster communities have received N360, 584, 323.40, and spent N297, 324, 573.32 on 47 completed projects and one ongoing project, just as the 12 communities in Ikwerre Cluster area have confirmed receipt of N536, 506, 100, out of which N497, 192, 009 has been spent on 38 completed projects and 10 ongoing ones.
Similarly, the three RA Cluster communities have received N276, 950, 790, out of which they have spent N137, 206, 510.12 on 25 projects and programmes, split in 21 completed and 4 ongoing portfolios. Of these, they are eight human capital development programmes, five electricity projects, one water project, six infrastructure projects and five economic empowerment schemes.
Even as they have put these development landmarks on the ground, the IA, Ikwerre and RA cluster areas still have bank accounts balances running into N63, 259, 749; N39, 314, 091; and N139, 744, 279.88, respectively for further sustainable development purposes.
Besides, Akuku Toru Cluster communities still have outstanding accruing development funds amounting to N74, 047, 262. 00; while Degema 3 communities have N148, 333, 333, 30 yet to be paid by SPDC.
In their separate speeches, the chairmen of the 10 cluster development boards said that the GMoU initiative was the metamorphosis of the microcosm of resource control in the Niger Delta, and advised communities in the region to key into the concept to enable them benefit from the resources derivable from their areas.
Managing Director, SPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu, who said that these investments were a sure way to bring about sustainable development and positively impacting change to host communities, stressed that the transparency and accountability in the GMoU model provides a good platform for other local and international donor agencies to fund development projects directly through the community development boards.
Sunmonu, who spoke through SPDC’s Government and Community Relations Manager, Fufeyin Funkapo, noted that the range of projects and programmes executed under the GMoU template cover microcredit for men and women, scholarships, innovative healthcare, skills acquisition schemes, solar-powered electrification and water projects, among many others, and thanked Rivers State Government, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Economic Support Initiative (ESI), the local government councils, host communities, implementing non-governmental organisations and joint venture partners for ensuring the success of the initiative thus far.
Wife of Rivers State Governor and Founder of ESI, Dame Judith Amaechi, eulogized the SPDC and GMoU concept, and acknowledged the sterling contributions of the initiative to the overall development of the state.
Represented at the event by Mrs Nina Ejims, the governor’s wife emphasized that ESI supports 70 schools and 210 teachers in the state, and has partnered with Ikwerre and Degema cluster boards under the GMoU scheme to implement human capital and infrastructure development projects with significant dividends to the rural population in the state.
Nelson Chukwudi
Nigeria’s losses due to crude oil theft has been said to be more significant than those of some other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC).
The Chairman, Senate Ad- hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nwoko noted with dismay the detrimental impact of the issue, which, he said include economic damage, environmental destruction, and its impact on host communities.
According to him, the theft was not only weakening the Naira, but also depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District described the scale of the theft as staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day.
Nwoko disclosed that the ad hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft, which he chairs, recently had a two-day public hearing on the rampant theft of crude oil through illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and the systemic gaps in the regulation and surveillance of the nation’s petroleum resources.
According to him, the public hearing was a pivotal step in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
‘’Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft. This is severely undermining our economy, weakening the Naira and depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social development.
‘’The scale of this theft is staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day more than some OPEC member nations produce.
‘’This criminal enterprise fuels corruption, funds illegal activities and devastates our environment through spills and pollution.
‘’The public hearing was not just another talk shop; it was a decisive platform to uncover the root causes of crude oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
‘’It was a platform to evaluate the effectiveness of existing surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms; Identify regulatory and legislative gaps that enable these crimes to thrive.
‘’It was also to engage stakeholders, security agencies, host communities, oil companies, regulators, and experts to proffer actionable solutions; and strengthen legal frameworks to ensure stricter penalties and more efficient prosecution of offenders”, he said.
Nwoko noted that Nigeria’s survival depended
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) has called on Nigerian companies to position themselves strategically to take full advantage of the growing opportunities in upcoming offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
The Managing Director, SNEPCO, Ronald Adams, made the call at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) Conference, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last Thursday.
Adams highlighted the major projects, including Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North, and the Bonga Main Life Extension, as key areas where Nigerian businesses can grow their capacity and increase their involvement.
“Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) says Nigerian companies have a lot to benefit if they are prepared to take advantage of more opportunities in its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
“Projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life Extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts”, Adams stated.
Adams noted that SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater oil exploration with the Bonga development and has since played a key role in growing local industry capacity.
He emphasized that Nigerian businesses could expand in key areas like logistics, drilling, and the construction of vital equipment such as subsea systems, mooring units, and gas processing facilities.
The SNEPCO boss explained that since production began at the Bonga field in 2005, SNEPCo has worked closely with Nigerian contractors to build systems and develop a skilled workforce capable of delivering projects safely, on time, and within budget both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
According to him, this long-term support has enabled local firms to take on key roles in managing the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which reached a major milestone by producing its one-billion barrel of oil on February 3, 2023.
The Emohua Local Government Area Administrator, Franklin Ajinwo, has pledged to improve electricity distribution in Oduoha Ogbakiri and its environs.
Ajinwo made the pledge recently while playing host in a courtesy visit to the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, in his office in Rumuakunde.
He stated that arrangements are underway to enhance available power, reduce frequent outages, and promote steady electricity supply.
The move, he said, was aimed at boosting small and medium-scale businesses in the area.
“The essence of power is not just to have light at night. It’s for those who can use it to enhance their businesses”, he said.
The Administrator, who commended the peaceful nature of Ogbakiri people, urged the Chiefs to continue in promoting peace and stability, saying “meaningful development can only thrive in a peaceful environment”.
He also charged the Chiefs to protect existing infrastructure while promising to address the challenges faced by the community.
Earlier, the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, led by HRH Eze Goodluck Mekwa Eleni Ekenta XV, expressed gratitude to the Administrator over his appointment and pledged their support to his administration.
The chiefs highlighted challenges facing the community to include incessant power outage, need for new transformers, and the completion of Community Secondary School, Oduoha.
The visit underscored the community’s expectations from the LGA administration.
With Ajinwo’s assurance of enhancing electricity distribution and promoting development, the people of Oduoha Ogbakiri said they look forward to a brighter future.
By: King Onunwor