Mkpoikana Udoma
13 July 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — Amah community in Igburu clan, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, would get the sum of N136million in five years from Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited.
This is one of the items in the Memorandum of Understanding recently signed by the community and the French multinational to promote peace and cordial relationship between the host community and the company.
Apart from the money, the community will also enjoy certain human capacity development such as overseas scholarships and skill acquisitions, which will also run for five years.
Speaking, Community Development Chairman of Amah community, Mr. Victory Ogolo, told our correspondent that the money would be paid in an installment of N27.2million every year to the community, and would be used strictly for sustainable investments by the people of the community.
Ogolo said the community is satisfied with the content of the MoU, as the contents were items carefully chosen by the community to be implemented by the company, and pledge the community’s resolve to safeguard Total’s oil and gas facilities in the area.
“Yes, owing to the prevailing circumstances, we are satisfied with the content of the MoU.
“Human capacity development, skill training acquisition for persons from Amah, scholarships for secondary and post-secondary students, graduates and postgraduates overseas scholarships are of key interest to us.
“The money is going to help us build some sustainable projects in our community that will yield profits and dividends to the community. We are to get N27.2million every year which will amount to N136million in five years of the MoU.”
Amah CDC boss explained that the community had to choose human capacity development and funds for sustainable investments since it already has schools, roads, and electricity.
“We already have schools and roads, Total has already built us school. This MoU is strictly for investment.
“We have always had a wonderful relationship with Total and I believed we are going to sustain it. We will do our best to ensure that Total’s facility in our community is protected and their operations safeguard.”
Asked if there will not be rancour and disagreements in the community when the money starts coming, the community leader explained that there was already a working agreement for all interest groups in the community, in order to forestall such.
It will be recalled that Total Exploration and Production Nigeria, TEPNG, had in May 2018 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Amah Community. Total’s Executive General Manager, Joint Venture Field Operations, Mr. Vincent Kiehl, signed on behalf of the company while the Paramount Ruler of Amah Community, Eze Vincent Didi, together with the Women leader and the Community Development Chairman had signed on behalf of the community.