TotalEnergies, JV Donate Relief Materials To OML58 Flood Victims

A Nigeria-based French oil conglomerate, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, has along with her Joint Venture (JV) partner,  Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, donated relief materials worth millions of naira to victims in flood impacted communities, hosting OML58 in Rivers State.
Handing over the items to communities in Egi, Ogba/Egbema/Ndon and Ekpeye, Ahoada East Local Government Areas(LGAs), the Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District, TotalEnergies EP, Mr. Guillaume Dulout, noted that the donations were made to ameliorate the plight of flood victims in those communities.
Represented by the General Manager, Community Affairs Project and Development, Mr Godspower Nwachukwu, Dulout who empathized with the flood victims within OML58 and across the country, observed that already, the company had deployed a crisis management team, which had provided various levels of interventions ranging from trucks, canoes, boats and life jackets to evacuate  over 5,000 families from the flooded communities.
“Let me start by saying how utterly saddened we are by the devastating floods that have swept across the length and breadth of Egi and Ekpeye Kingdoms, rendering families homeless, destroying farmlands and other sources of livelihoods.
“Today, we are here to stand with our people in Egi and Ekpeye lands. TotalEnergies is not just a responsible Company, but a responsive corporate citizen and committed member of Egiland. That is why when something affects our hosts, we are affected too.
“We are delighted to note that, so far, we have evacuated over 5,000 persons to safety: provided medical support and assistance to about 200 and daily meals to over 2,700 internally displaced persons in four camps located in Akabuka, Erema, Obite and Ogbogu”, he said.
Lamenting the recurring flooding of the communities and indeed across the nation, over the years, Dulout urged the government to seek permanent solution to the recurring issue of flooding which devastates communities.
He said, “the floods have simply made people refugees in their own communities. Sadly, these floods have become a recurring decimal in Egi, Ekpeye and indeed across other parts of Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s major rivers, the Niger and Benue, are more full at this time of the year because it is the peak of the rainy season in west Africa. This is also true of the Orashi River, which has its source in Imo State. And because over the years, these rivers have become silted, flooding has become inevitable.
“The Government will have to explore long-term solutions to make sure that the water levels in these rivers can be better controlled in the future to forestall danger to lives, property and livelihoods”.
He used the opportunity to commend other institutions which have collaborated with the company in ensuring the support provided reached the flood victims in the temporary shelters, Internally Displaced People’s Camps and those within the communities.
“It is our hope that this gesture will ameliorate the current hardships faced by the victims of the flooding in our communities. OfWe wish to re-assure you of our commitment to partnering with our key stakeholders in bringing the desired development to our host communities. We thank you for your understanding and hope to see the situation return to normal soon,” he added.
Dulout, however, noted that the company was also facing challenging times, given that TotalEnergies had not exported oil since the end of February, following a shutdown of their facilities.

By: Tonye Nria-Dappa