By Austin kpomah
Over the years, many companies, both local and international, have operated in the Utorogun gas plant in Udu Local Government Area and Ughelli south of Delta State with significant economic and social impact on their host communities.
In time past, due to the symbiotic and well-intentioned policies by settlor companies, host communities like Otor-Udu, lwhrekan and Otu-Jeremi did not have reason to experience restiveness and agitation.
One cannot forget in a hurry how Makon Engineering Ltd demonstrated its expertise in community relations with a win-win outcome that benefitted all stakeholders. Their presence was amply felt by all and sundry. It was enough reason to even wish their operations to stay forever.
The delivery of the NAG2 project was excellent, on point, and time-bound. The company made the host communities their operational base.
ND/Western is another great company that equally went that route by meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the host communities.
Enter NAG 3. The contract was awarded to Loneb Company Ltd. Since it commenced operations some years back, one hardly notices its operations with any indices of effective and proactive community relations.
The management has not designed any policy to impact the means of livelihood of the host local people in terms of community engagement and award of contracts.
It has never been so bad as their operation seems cast in unwarranted secrecy with appallingly slow pace of operations. Tongues have started to wag as to their questionable capacity to deliver the project. Their activities and operational style have remained faceless, to say the least.
It is high time they came out of their shell and make their impact felt by the communities to enjoy whatever goodwill that is left.
Loneb Company must show proof of its corporate social engagement with its host communities and stakeholders to erase whatever doubt that is lingering.
The dynamics of operation must be restructured to accommodate the demands of the time.