By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Government of Delta State has advised Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) to pay the indigenous contractors of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee (IRDC), who have successfully carried out jobs awarded to them to reasonable lengths, without payments.
The Commissioner for Oil and Gas of Delta State, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba, gave the advise when he went to Omadino Community in Warri South Local Government Area (LGA) to inspect the 0.38km internal road executed by IRDC in the oil and gas-rich community recently, adding that they do not like shutdowns of operations of any Company.
Amgbaduba, who was guided round the project by the Secretary of IRDC, Richard Omare Esq, alongside the Treasurer of IRDC, Mr. Emma Adun, and the Engineer in charge of the Company executing the project, affirmed that the job has been done to a substantial milestone without payment being made as agreed between Chevron, IRDC and the contractors.
The Commissioner, while describing the 380-meter road project connecting Nenuwa Hall, Omadino, as a complete job, advised the management of CNL to do the needful in less than 10 days time in order to avoid any form of unrest that could result in operations shutdown as a result to the ultimatum handed down by the aggrieved indigenous IRDC contractors.
According to him, the road project is of a very good standard with two-side drains and, he encouraged other community development organisations to embark on projects of this nature.
The Secretary of IRDC, Richard Omare, revealed that clusters of houses between 70 and 80 percent completion stages, as well as an ultra-modern civic centre are also being constructed in Omadino by IRDC.
He stated that Chevron only did one milestone payment in December 2022. He also mentioned a series of housing units, which were 103 in total, markets and cottage hospitals, as some of the projects being constructed by IRDC at different stages of completion, which haven’t been paid for by the Management of Chevron Nigeria Limited.