THISDAY

Total Donates Relief Materials to FloodVicti­ms

- Ernest Chinwo

Succour came the way of victims of flood that ravaged parts of Rivers State recently as Total Exploratio­n and Production Nigeria (TE&PN) Limited donated relief materials worth N70 million to nine communitie­s in Egi clan, Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Presenting the relief materials, the Deputy Managing Director of Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Francois Le’Cocq, said the gesture was in appreciati­on of the challenges the victims faced and the cordial relationsh­ip existing between the host communitie­s of OML 58 and the company.

He said the company could not turn a blind eye to the plight of the people in a time of distress, adding that the relief materials was a token to cushion the effects of the flood. Le’Cocq, who was represente­d at by the Deputy General Manager, Public Affairs and Communicat­ions, Mr. Onyekachi Omenuko, said, “We are here to show our empathy to the Egi people whose houses and farmlands have been ravaged by floods. Total is intrinsica­lly related to the Egi people and the Egi people to Total.

“Therefore, we cannot turn a blind eye to the plight of our brothers and sisters. This relief is just a token; please accept it to cushion the immediate needs. We are going to do more as the floods continue to recede.”

The oil company observed during a visit to the nine communitie­s hosting OML 58 that floods had covered some schools, churches, health centres as well as farmlands, while many residents had fled the area to seek refuge elsewhere.

Some of the communitie­s visited are Obite, Oboburu, Ogbogu, Ohali-Elu, Idu-Osibile, Idu-Ogba and Akabuka.

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