By Jennifer Y Omiloli
Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and the Egbema-Gbaramatu Community Development Foundation (EGCDF) have commissioned and handed over a N596 million cottage hospital project over to the Delta state government.
The project was built through a Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) between Chevron, operator of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Ventures and EGCDF.
Speaking at the ceremony held in Polobubo (Tsekelewu) in Warri North council area of Delta state, the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House Asaba, Chief Tam Brisibe commended the management of the EGCDF and Chevron for the laudable project.
He said “The Delta State Government is very happy to be a part of this ceremony. Development is a partnership, government alone cannot do everything. Today we are commissioning this primary health center, which is being made possible by the partnership between EGCDF and Chevron/NNPC Joint Venture.
“The Delta State Government is coming in to provide the necessary support to run this facility. The government of Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is one, that undoubtedly have the interest of the people of Delta State at heart.
“The SMART agenda that he (Okowa) came into government with has allowed him to provide health facilities in different parts of the state. It had led him to develop parts of the state that hitherto have not been seeing the presence of government.”
The community urged the state government to dredge their rivers, reclaimed their land, build internal roads in the community, construct a major Trans-Egbema Road from Otuama to Polobubo from Polobubo to Ogbudugbudu and help get all the oil companies in the area sign proper MoU with them.
In their request, they also ask the state government to build a modular refinery in the area, provide portable drinking water, install the 100kva generating plant provided for the community by DESOPADEC, sandfill the Tsekelewo Secondary School and build a Higher Institution/Skill acquisition center for them.