ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P) has donated a solar-powered water project to Koluama 1 community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The indigenous oil company said the project is expected to provide the people and their environs with potable water to reduce cases of water borne diseases.
The oil firm executed the project with KEFFES Rural Development Foundation.
KEFFES is an acronym for Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, and Sangana oil-rich communities located along the Atlantic coastline in Bayelsa.
Speaking during the handover ceremony yesterday, the Representative of First E&P, Mr Gerald Amakiri, said the solar project was a pilot test.
He promised that the water project would be replicated in all the host communities in the state.
He said: “Late afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in his popular song says: ‘water no get enemy’, so, we are hoping that this water will bring unity to this community.
”We are also hoping that as you drink from the borehole, sickness will vanish, there will be more prosperity to Koluama 1, the women, youths, boys and girls.”
Receiving the project, the Chairman, KEFFES Rural Development Foundation, Mr Matthew Sele-epri, thanked the indigenous oil firm and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the kind gesture.
He, however, demanded three additional points be built in the pilot scheme in Koluama 1.
Sele-epri, represented by Moses Theophilus, Kenibara VII, traditional ruler of Moko-Ama Sangana Kingdom, also appealed to the firm not to renege on the replication of the project in all KEFFES communities.
He noted that it was the first in KEFFES rural communities, saying: ”If you can recall that all our communities are surrounded by water but potable water has been a big challenge in the area.
“And today, as God may have it, First E&P has been able to deliver on the social development obligation and so we want to appreciate them for this kind and proactive intervention.
“We are still demanding that this should be replicated in all the communities and all the KEFFES host communities because that is the only way we can see the goodness of the project. It will not be good to expect the whole community to come to Kouama 1 to fetch water.”