Why I’ II continue with my predecessor’s housing programme- Emami

Current Chairman of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC, Chief Ayirimi Emami says he will continue with his predecessor, Hon. Omamofe Pirah’s housing programmes in 2014 for the 23 Itsekiri oil and gas producing as well as impacted communities to encourage more Itsekiris to return to their communities destroyed during the fratricidal Warri crisis.

Chief Emami disclosed that after embarking on more housing projects as matter of necessity, his leadership will “focus on areas such as poultry and other investment programmes for the women”.

The IRDC boss who was speaking in an exclusive interview noted that as part of strategy towards exploring other sources of funding to compliment that of Chevron, his administration is working with the relevant federal and state government agencies like Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to fast-track development in the 23 Itsekiri oil producing communities.

While stressing that accessing third party funding particularly from international donors has been quite challenging, Chief Emami observed that his involvement of the NDDC in the last commissioning of IRDC projects has made the commission site some projects in the Itsekiri oil producing communities to compliment the efforts of IRDC.

He said the GMoU model “has provided little improvement” in terms of development to Itsekiri oil and gas producing communities “compared to what we used to have”.

According to him, the GMoU model “where no one can access funds individually and the funds are tied to projects makes it better and transparent”.

The IRDC Chairman, who observed that the number of Itsekiris taken in the Oghere training programme by Chevron has improved considerably since the introduction of GMoU, however noted that his reservation stems from the fact that Itsekiris so far employed by Chevron as graduates from the Oghere training will end up as technicians without growing to managerial positions in the company.

Chief Emami while stating that he will personally recommend the GMoU government structure as a veritable tool for development, stressed that he is determined to make sure that “people from Niger Delta should be able to grow to handle prominent offices in Chevron as well as “attain positions of level 24 and above” in the company.

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