Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — As part of their corporate social responsibility, Chevron Nigeria Limited and First Exploration and Production, have donated 1,600 bags of garri to their host communities in Bayelsa State, to cushion the excruciating effects of the COVID19 pandemic.
The benefiting communities are Koluama 1 and II, Ezetu 1 and II, Foropa, Fishtown, Ekeni and Sangana, all in Brass and Southern Ijaw LGAs, which forms the acronym KEFFES, in the Global Memorandum of Understanding between the communities, Chevron and First E&P.
While handing over the food item to the benefiting communities, Chairman of KEFFES Rural Development Foundation, Mr Mathew Sele-Epri, said that the gesture from the two oil firms was to show empathy and care to members of its host communities.
Sele-Epri, on behalf of the oil firms handed the 1,600 bags of garri to Community Development Chairmen of the eight benefiting communities.
“The intervention came from Chevron and First E&P who are our partners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,to cushion the harsh effects of the lockdown on the residents in their host communities.
“This is a crucial time to show genuine love and we are glad that they have responded and the food we have here will sustain the people for at least one month and we have the governance structure for judicious and equitable distribution.
Asked why the oil firms had to donate only garri to the host communities, and not a combination of other staple food like rice, beans and vegetable oil, Sele-Epri said garri was what the people demanded as the sit-at-home directive has stopped people from going to farm.
Speaking on behalf of the benefiting communities, CDC Chairman of Koluama II, Ekubo Patrick, commended Chevron and First E&P for being sensitive to the needs of their host communities and urged other companies operating in the area to follow suit.