The Itsekiri Regional Development Committee (IRDC), a major community-driven development council under the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, has inaugurated an integrated Agric Farm at Tisun Community, Town Hall at Eghoro and 52 housing projects spread across at least 20 communities in Warri North as well as Warri South-West local government areas in Delta State.

Amb. Austine Oniyesan, Chairman of IRDC, speaking during inauguration of the projects, noted that Itsekiri RDC had been providing scholarship to students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions and job opportunities to a large number of persons as well as creating wealth through skill acquisition programmes to the people.

Oniyesan who commended the NNPC/Chevron JV for solely providing funds for the projects, disclosed that the next project circle of IRDC would commence very soon after necessary project needs assessment with the 23 Itsekiri communities under IRDC.              In an address, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), Chevron Nigeria Limited, quipped that the housing projects were in alignment with the 2030 target of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which says everyone should have access to adequate, safe and affordable housing as well as basic services.

The Chevron PGPA boss who was represented by Mr. Sam Daibo, the PGPA Area Manager, and Mr. Tony Emegere, PGPA Superintendent, revealed that CNL was working with the RDCs on the GMoU Plus Model with a view to facilitating continuous development in the communities by focusing on sustainable economic empowerment programmes and employment generation.      

Brikinn said that between 2005 and 2018, the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, invested more than N20.6 billion on about 600 programmes that have provided scholarships, built new schools, medical facilities, housing and agricultural development infrastructure in communities where Chevron operates.                         

Source: Independent