The Management of Okomu Oil Palm in Edo has said whistle blowers have received N20 million after saving the company from losses.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr Graham Hefer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday that the whistle blowing policy had been in place for over 10 years.

It was to prevent theft of the company’s produce such as oil Palm fruits, rubber, as well as illicit operations within and outside the company.

He noted that the policy had been very rewarding for the company and commended the Federal Government for adopting the same policy to checkmate corruption in government offices.

Hefer said that the company presently has 33,000 hectares of land out of which 18,000 hectares had been cultivated with oil palm.

He further said that 8,000 hectares was being used for the cultivation of rubber trees.

Another 1,000 hectares of rubber trees would be cultivated in 2018, he said.

He said that the company was facing problems of power supply and bad roads.

These limitations, he said: “Affect cost of production and hinder the company from effectively competing with its contemporaries outside the country.”

In spite of these however, Hefer, said that the company has spent about N200 million on corporate social responsibility programme in two years.

It has also budgeted N250 million for CSR projects in 2017.

The money was expended in the provisions of basic and social amenities for host and neighouring communities.

“We provided bole holes, built schools, built town halls, and assisted the police with the repairs of their vehicles among others.

“We are motivated to carry out the projects because of the good relationship we enjoy with the host and neighouring communities of Okomu Oil Palm Company,” he said.

No fewer than 270 youths had benefited from its scholarship programme in the last ten years.

Hefer said about 27 youths from the host and neighouring communities, in different universities across the country, are currently enjoying the company’s scholarship scheme.

He said the gesture was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, adding that it was driven by the philosophy of service to humanity. (NAN)

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