The oil exploration giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, spent a total of N350million in community development activities within its host communities in Bayelsa in 2018 under its KEFFES Rural Development Foundation (RDF).

KEFFES is an acronym for eight Chevron host communities in Bayelsa comprising Koluama 1 & 2; Ezetu 1 & 2; Foropa; Fish Town; Ekeni and Sangana located along the Atlantic coastline within Bayelsa.

The General Manager in charge of Government and Public Affairs, Chevron, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, said the foundation embarked on 167 development projects.

Brikinn, who spoke during the 8th Annual General Meeting of KEFFES RDF in Yenagoa, disclosed that Chevron runs a community-driven approach in meeting its social obligations to its host communities in Niger Delta.

Brikinn, who was represented by Mr. Tony Emegere, an official of the Policy, Government, and Public Affairs Unit of Chevron at the event attended by representatives of Chevron’s host communities, said that rather than foist projects on the benefitting communities, the oil firm provided the funds while the benefitting communities implement projects based on their priorities.

According to Brikinn, Chevron carries out community development under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) template that guarantees transparency and accountability.

Speaking earlier, the chairman of KEFFES RDF, Mr. Mathee Sele-Epri, applauded Chevron for keeping faith with its funding obligations to its host communities.

He decried the hostile attitude of the communities in Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas to contractors executing projects for the Foundation and also regretted that the attitude of the people to contractors stifled development, delaying project completion and called for a change of attitude to pave way for progress.

Sele-Epri explained that the foundation spent the funds at its disposal prudently under the governance structure spelt out in the GMoU on infrastructure, non-infrastructure and scholarships for hundreds of students.

Also speaking, Chief JTC Leghemo, a monarch in Koluama 1, one of the eight host communities noted that the meeting was part of deliberate efforts by the foundation to be answerable to the beneficiary communities.

“The past year has been replete with consolidation of our efforts to maintain peace amongst the communities that make up the foundation. We are here to take stock of our collective journey so far,” Leghemo said.

He urged the Foundation to sensitise the youths in the communities to refrain from being hostile to project contractors as the act was inimical to the development aspirations of the people

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