DENNIS UDOMA, Uyo
Moved by the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East geo-political zone of the country, Total Exploration and Production, in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC/Total E&P), has donated the sum of five hundred thousand United States Dollars ($500,000) to the Nigerian Red Cross Society for their rehabilitation programme.
The intervention programme which was launched by the company last year is aimed at improving the living conditions of the displaced persons in the region.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Total E&P, Mr. Nicolas Terraz said in a press release made available to Global Patriot Newspapers that, the donation was part of the company’s social responsibility to support the on-going efforts by individuals and groups to improve the livelihood and conditions of persons living in the camps.
“This initiative, which is part our social responsibility is in support of efforts to improve conditions in the camps and help the affected persons return to their livelihood,” said Mr. Nicolas Terraz.
Executive General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Mr. Vincent Nnadi, who represented the Managing Director said, “The NNPC/Total E&P Nigeria Joint Venture is deploying some resources to assist in this direction and, has chosen the Nigerian Red Cross Society as our partner in implementing this initiative.”
According to him, “The initiative is a 12-month intervention programme designed to achieve a short term relief through the distribution of food and non-food items, to vulnerable groups of female-head households, widows, orphans, the infirm and the aged.
“Support livelihood activities of the able-bodied to accelerate their economic recovery and self-reliance, boost psychosocial support activities like provision of safe playing and learning spaces for the children and restoration of family links for families torn apart.
“Broaden the scope and reach of community health activities like immunization, malaria prevention and treatment of ailments and, provide safe and adequate water supply, environmental sanitation as well as personal hygiene promotion”.
Representatives of NNPC-NAPIMS, officials of Gombe State Government and the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), witnessed the presentation.
Earlier, Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, while receiving the delegation of the company at his palace at the state capital, commended Total’s initiative in supporting efforts to rehabilitate the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
