Oil Firm Employs 2000 Egi Indigenes

Over 2,000 indigenes of Egi land, in Ogba/  Egbema/Ndoni, local government area of Rivers State (ONELGA), have  benefited from employment opportunities provided by Total E & P Nigeria Limited in the last one  year.

The company’s Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District, Mr. Denis Barthelot, disclosed  this at the weekend, during the celebration of the New Yam Festival  by the people  of Egi otherwise  known as Igwa-Iji Egwu Ogba Festival.

He said it was customary for the company to use the annual festival to review  some progress made in the  community within the period, stressing that the upgrade of projects and drilling  activities has generated over 2,000 direct employments and many more indirect jobs for the people of Egi.

He expressed concern over the rationalisation of electricity supply in the community, noting that arrangement  had been concluded for additional three megawatts of electricity in Egi land.

The oil company chief also informed the people that Total E&P Nigeria Limited, would soon commence the  renegotiation of the Egi Agreements as a way of reviewing their success and weaknesses as well as  charting a new course.

Barthelot thanked the people of Egi for ensuring a conducive  environment for the smooth operations of the company, describing their peaceful disposition as a hallmark of a great relationship.

He also commended the Rivers State  governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for elevating the Eze Egi chieftaincy stool to first class.

In his welcome address, the paramount ruler of Egiland, His Royal Majesty, Eze Kingdom Elenwa, said the Igwa-Iji Egwu Ogba festival is an annual event that is celebrated in August to mark the harvesting of new crops in Egi.

He expressed joy for a fruitful harvest this year and enjoined all to conduct themselves peacefully throughout  the festive period.

The Eze Egi thanked Governor Amaechi for elevating his stool and  attributed the recognition to the peaceful co-existence of Egi people.

He lauded Total for being a good corporate citizen and urged other development partners to also shift  their attention to Egi land.

In their separate speeches, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Oris Oyiri, who is incidentally the President-General  of Egi Peoples Assembly and the chairman of ONELGA, Mr. Raymond Wokocha,  commended  total for carrying out its corporate social responsibility in Egi land.

The highlights of the ceremony were the blessing of the new yam consumption by the Eze Egi and the presentation of 16 bicycles to Egi town-criers for dissemination of information.