Host Communities Hail Oil Firm Over New MoU

Stakeholders of the various host communities of Total Exploration Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNG) in Rivers State have expressed satisfaction over the signing of the newly renegotiated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Port Harcourt, recently.
Speaking during the (MoU) signing ceremony held at Sasun Hotel in Port Harcourt, the representative of Rebisi Kingdom, Eze Chris Nwonodi said the signing of the renegotiated MoU was an indication of a more robust relationship between Total and its host communities.
Eze Nwonodi, who is also the secretary, Port Harcourt Council of Chiefs and Elders, said the host communities were looking up to the successful implementation of the MoU.
The representative of Olo Community, Chief Anthony Wonah who spoke at the event, commended Total for its corporate policy on sustainable development of its host communities.
He said,“Total has given our children access to free education through the award of post Primary, Secondary and post graduate scholarships, our youths and women have become established entrepreneurs in diverse trades and vocations through the TEPNG’s skills acquisition programmes.
In his remark, the Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Eze RobinsonO. Robinson described Total as the company with the best community relations policy in the state.
He urged Total to be committed in the implementation of the new MoU.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Managing Director of TEPNG, Port Harcourt District, Mr Francois Lecocq described the new MoU, as a product of thorough engagements and negotiations which had led to the mutually acceptable agreement that will form the basis of the company’s relationship with its host communities in the next five years.
He said the company was committed to touching the lives of its host communities, regardless of the challenges which the country is facing today.
He said the company was poised to implement its new compliancerequired to ensure transparency in the nomination and execution of projects in the MoU process.
Also speaking, the General Field Operations Onshore of Total, Dr Abdullah Inuwa thanked the MoU stakeholders for their support and assured the commitment of TEPNG to the smooth implementation of the MoU.
The MoU host communities, include Ekpeye, Olo, Idu, Obusiukwe, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Etche, Owaza, Ndele and Rebisi kingdom.