Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa has called for more infrastructural development from oil giant, Cheveron to the host communities in the Sunshine State.

Receiving representatives of the Cheveron led by Mr Happy Apai, Cheveron Senior Government Affairs Adviser, at his office in Akure on Monday, Aiyedatiwa believes that through Cheveron social responsibilities to the host communities in the State, infrastructural development would positively impact the economic growth and development of the host communities.

He therefore enjoined the oil giant to raise the bar by "giving to the host communities what belong to them" . According to the Deputy Governor, "the existing relationship should continue and all the privileges as host communities be giving to them so that, we can continue to enjoy the peaceful relationship that have been existing over the years" . Continued, Aiyedatiwa said, "I want to plead that, pending the full implemention of Petroleum Industry ACT (PIA) , let's continue to work with the present MOU with the host communities so that the communities can benefit, because these communities are facing a lot of challenges in the area of electricity, water and other basic amenities" . "Presently, most of the communities are facing serious ocean surge and environmental challenges" .

"So, we want to plead with you that as we progress, always have these communities in mind and give them what belongs to them" . "On the part of Government, we are ready to provide enabling environment where your operations will continue to go smoothly... security of lives and properties and making your place of operations safe for your assets and personnels, this is what we will do as Government" .

Conclusively, Aiyedatiwa declared that, "once you are operating safely, you will also be getting returns alongside the empowerment and infrastructural development of the host communities" . In his own remarks, Cheveron representative, Mr Happy Apai, ( Senior Government Affairs Adviser, Cheveron ), said, "we need to go through the host communities, helping them to see practical possibilities of having a seamless operations in their areas" . Promising that, Cheveron would work with host communities to actualized it's corporate social responsibilities.

At the event with the Deputy Governor are, Commissioner of Environment, Hon Sunday Akinwalere, Special Adviser on Environment, Hon Oyeniyi Oseni, Deputy Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa, Sam Daibo ( Area Manager, Policy and Public Affairs, Cheveron ), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Prophet Akin Asaniyan, Chairman IRDC, Barrister Abiye Adeyemi, Chairman AIMAICOMA, Barrister Wole Ogungbeje, Chairman, Board of Host Communities, Chief Paul Akinmulewo, Secretary AIMAICOMA, Engr Kehinde Omoyele, Press Secretary To the Governor ( Office of the Deputy ), Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, Special Assistant To Governor on New Media, Ladi Okunniga and others.

Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson,
Press Secretary To the Governor
( Office of the Deputy Governor ).
Photo Credit: Abayomi Adefalu.