Pay Ijaw boys N200,000 monthly, there ’ll be no more economic sabotage —EGCDF

THERE is no youth in Gbaramatu and Egbema kingdoms in Delta State that would receive N200,000.00 monthly salary and still indulge or allow pipelines to be bombed in his area, chairman of Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF) has disclosed.

The executive chairman of EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny, said this during the 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation.

He opined that instead of spending money on security and repairs of damaged oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government and oil companies have been urged to channel such funds on developing the area.

According to him, such preventive measure would naturally end insecurity, pipeline vandalism and bombings in the region.

“The money Chevron Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Government are spending on repairs of destroyed oil facilities and security should be used for development of the region.

If they do this I know militancy and insecurity will naturally die in the region. I am saying this because most of the youths are taking advantage of the underdevelopment of the region to perpetrate evil.

We need to be involved in big contracts like others, partners in the development process.

The Federal Government, NDDC, DESOPADEC are not sincere to us when it comes to development of our area.

If not for Chevron Nigeria Ltd the situation could have been worse,” Jonny noted.

In his remarks, General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Deji Haastrup, said CNL designed the GMoU to empower the communities which constitute the EGCDF and promote the spirit of self-help, so that the people could take their destiny in their own hands and begin to champion their future.

He added that the intention of the GMoU was to bring sustainable development to Ijaw communities close to their operations in Delta State and put community people in the driver’s seat of their development efforts.

“Since 2005, the EGCDF has utilization funds provided by the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture to provide infrastructural and human capital development projects for the benefit our people”, Haastrup said.