To enhance fishing, safety of fishermen and improving quality of lives, the NNPC-Chevron Joint Venture donated two boats and fishing gears to Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Wednesday.
The donation was made in collaboration with the Ilaje Rural Development Initiative Committee (IRDC).
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that two Passport 19 boats, two 200HP Yamaha outboard engines, several fishing and safety equipment worth millions of naira were distributed to the riverine residents.
Speaking at the handover at Awoye community, IRDC Chairman, Mr Abiye Adeyemi, said the new IRDC executives had been putting funds donated by the NNPC-Chevron joint venture to judicious use.
He said IRDC had procured office equipment, organised free healthcare outreaches, and training programmes for fishermen and had awarded scholarships to secondary, tertiary institutions students.
He commended the joint venture for supporting IRDC with funds to ameliorate the sufferings of the poor and to improve the lives of riverine residents.
Adeyemi also thanked Ondo State government and Oba Fredrick Obateru-Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom for their support and for always ensuring peace in riverine communities.
He implored beneficiaries of Wednesday’s donation to make good use of the facilities and to continue to support Chevron and the implementation of the Petroleum Industrial Act (PIA).
He noted that the PIA is a new concept of statutory engagement with oil producing stakeholders to reap more benefits from the process.
Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Chief Ajayi Ayenomuro, leader of Akinsolu community thanked Chevron and the IRDC for constant life-touching activities and responding to the needs of the communities.
He pleaded with the IRDC to continue to sustain and respond to the numerous needs of the communities and pledged their continuous support to foster peaceful coexistence with Chevron Nigeria Ltd.
The IRDC is a community-based organisation established in 2005 to bring succour to oil-bearing Ilaje communities through the initiation of various programmes and projects to be sponsored by Chevron Nigeria Ltd.
Eight oil-bearing communities: Awoye, Molutehin, Opoakaba, Mese, Gbagira, Odofado, Akinsolu and Jirinwo that signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chevron benefitted from the donation.