Total signs MOU with oil producing communities

TOTAL Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPENG), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with nine oil producing communities in Rivers and Abia states, to boost infrastructural and human capital development.

The communities include, Ekpeye, Olo, Idu, Ikwere, Obio/akpor, Etche in Rivers, and Owaza and Ndele in Abia states, respectively.

The Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District, TEPENG, Francois le Cocq, at the formal signing ceremony of the Mous in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, said the content and scope of the agreements have the potential to positively affect the lives of the communities, if all parties showed sincerity in implementation and management of the pacts.

Cocq, represented by the Executive General Manager, JV Field Operations, Vicent Kiehl, noted that the recession in the industry made a downward review of its previous Mous inevitable.

He said: "Reflecting from the outcome of the reviews of the implementation of past agreements, I believe we have understood the causes and effects of our actions and inactions. We have observed and we are worried about some grey areas of our implementation strategies. We are concerned about the winner takes it all attitudes exhibited by various members of the committees.

"This has often led to disagreements and crisis within the rank and files in our communities. We have equally observed that basic principles of sustainability have not been integrated sufficiently in our choice of community development projects, and scholarships are not getting to the right candidates.”