…Lament lack of CSR from oil coys
By: Felix Ikpotor
Worried by the deplorable state of the Eleme axis of the East West Road in Rivers State, Chairman of the area, Obarilomate Ollor at the weekend met with the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment after their oversight function in the state where he lamented the hardship faced by the people of his council despite being host to several multinational companies.
Ollor decried the total neglect of that section of the road by Federal Government and the lack of corporate social responsibility by the over 400 companies operating in the area.
He said: “It is on record that Eleme hosts over 400 companies and between the first quarter of 2020 and 2021, the federal government through Custom generated over 80 billion naira from our land, this can only be possible where the local government ensures peace and security.
However, he said, “ despite these gestures, the Eleme people have continued to suffer failed or lack of power supply, employment into managerial positions, empowerment and adequate infrastructural developments from the companies as most of these companies have little or no presence of their CSR or interventions in our land and this we believe violates the provisions of our Corporate Social Responsibility law and Nigerian Local Content Development Act”.
Lamenting further Ollor said, “because of the operations of these companies with their heavy duty trucks carrying containers, almost all the roads in Eleme have become very bad leaving the people to suffer from continuous gridlocks and casualties on daily basis”.
He also accused multinationals operating in the area of
‘ hiding under the shield and coverage of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, the Nigerian Port Authority and other major multinationals to renege on their CSR”.
The council boss appealed to the committee intervenes by prevailing on the federal government to immediately commence construction on the Eleme axis of the East West road.
Ollor also begged the committee to prevail on OGFZA, NPA and other major multinationals to allow the council have an unhindered access directly to the companies considering the pollution and other hazards the people of Eleme suffer from the operations of these companies.
He maintained that the council is willing to accommodate more local and foreign investors.
In his response, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Senator Francis Fadahunsi commended the people of Eleme for their peaceful disposition despite the sufferings in the midst plenty and perceived provocations from different quarters.
He cited politics and politicians as reason behind some of the challenges faced by the people of the Niger Delta region, stressing that politicking is the reason interventionist agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and others are not performing optimally.
Fadahunsi promised assured that his committee will engage the Senate Committee on Works and also interface with the Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola to fast track work on the road but also advised the council chairman to do a petition to the National Assembly through his representative Senator Barry Mpigi.
