Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — AllGrace Energy Limited, operator of the Ubima Marginal Field in OML 17, has inspected ongoing community development projects in Ubima community, Ikwerre LGA, Rivers State.
The inspection, conducted with officials of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, focused on the 1500-sitting capacity ultramodern civic centre, an initiative of the Ubima Host Community Development Trust, HCDT.
Assistant Director, Community Project Management, NUPRC, Engr. Olatokunbo Karimu, speaking during the inspection tour, expressed satisfaction with the project’s quality but urged speedy completion.
Karimu assured that NUPRC will re-appraised the contractor handling the project and Ubima HCDT management to ensure speedy completion of the project on record time.
He said, “The Ubima Civic centre is the first project to be embarked on by the Ubima HCDT. We are satisfied with the quality of work, it has very good quality, the materials and the work done so far.
“Although we are a bit unsatisfied with the pace. We expected that it would have gone beyond what we are seeing today. We had expected that by now it would have been roofed.”
Also, AllGrace Energy’s representative and Secretary, Ubima HCDT Board of Trustees, Folashade Aderanti-Olowoshoke, said the project monitoring was in compliance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act and the NUPRC Regulations.
Aderanti-Olowoshoke, explained that the construction of a modern community townhall in Ubima community, was one of the initiatives highlighted in the Community Development Plan for 2024, adopted by the Ubima HCDT.
“This facility is envisioned to serve as a vital hub for local engagement, fostering dialogue, culture, and promoting the overall welfare of the community.
“AllGrace Energy Limited remains steadfast in its commitment to the socio-economic advancement of its host community, ensuring that sustainable development projects are prioritized and executed. Through collaborative efforts, the company aims to continuously contribute to the long-term growth and prosperity of Ubima.”
For his part, the contractor handling the project and Managing Director of Construe Limited, Mr Okachi Everest, attributed delays to difficulties in sourcing local skilled manpower but assured completion by December 2024 or January 2025.
Giving the details of the project, Everest said the 1500 sitting capacity ultra modern civic centre for Ubima Community has 14 offices within the complex, noting that the project has a huge support from the youths and elders of the community.
He said, “Since we were mobilized, we have been working effectively, and it is believed that in no distant time, we will handover the project in line with the time frame and specification.
“Initially we couldn’t get skilled manpower within the community and in line with the local content policy, any community that we are working in we always carry along the indigenes, but since we couldn’t get highly skilled manpower within, we decided to bring them from Port Harcourt.
“The community has been supportive, they come here to inspect the project and assist us in the little way they can. The elders and the youths are involved. We give them contract to supply us most of the materials we are using here; we have always considered them and they have always delivered.”
