By Gab Ejuwa

Executive Chairman of Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, Mr Jude Ukori, has said that the visit of the management team of Chevron Nigeria Limited to the monarchs of Egbema and Gbaramatu Kingdoms showed that they are critical stakeholders to the operations of Chevron in Nigeria.

Ukori, who made the disclosure during a visit of Chevron’s top management team to the palaces of both Gbaramatu and Egbema monarchs said the visit was historic because it was the first since Chevron started operations in both kingdoms.

According to him, “The visit is the first of its kind since Chevron started operations in our area. It is really historic and we believe it is going to be a new dawn in the dealings between CNL and the communities, even though we have dissatisfaction in areas of employment and delay in confirmation of contract staff and lack of empowerment opportunity for our people.”

Earlier, the kings, HRM Pere Williams Ogoba, Oboro II, King of Gbaramatu Kingdom and HRM Gold Oro Tiemo, Bini Pere III, King of Egbema Kingdom who spoke separately in their palaces commended the Ukori-led executives of EGCDF for playing a major role in the visit by CNL management.

The monarchs advised the team of CNL led by Cosmos Iwueze, General Manager JV Operations CNL to up their game in the area of socio-corporate responsibility by increasing the GMoU funds meant for development of the oil bearing communities.

The monarchs, who also urged CNL to employ indigenes of Egbema and Gbaramatu kingdoms as management staff and not contract staff, lamented that they had not gotten adequate attention in terms of benefits from CNL.