Oriental Energy in ambitious N700m housing project for host community

All things being equal, 100 families in Enwang, headquarters of Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, will be taken out of the property market when Oriental Energy Resources Limited completes the 100-unit modern residential estate is building for the community.

The estate, named Oriental Village Mbo, is estimated to cost the company N700 million and will comprise 100 units of one-bedroom flats.  It will be sitting on 2.5 hectares of land provided by people of Eyo-Ukut and facilitated by the Enwang Council of Chiefs, led by the clan head.

The project  which is being built and funded exclusively by Oriental Energy Resources Limited and the Muhammadu Indimi Foundation as a legacy project for Oriental Energy’s host communities will, on completion, have a solar-powered electrification system, a school, clinic, a shopping centre and will be given freely to beneficiaries.

Muhammadu Indimi, the Executive Chairman of Oriental Energy, who gave these hints in his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony in Enwang recently, noted that the Oriental Village is clear manifestation of the company’s commitment to sustainable development of its host communities, adding, “the housing initiative we have commissioned will leverage innovative housing technology to provide accommodation to 100 families in Mbo Local Government Area”.

Oriental Energy is a privately held oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Nigeria, with an average daily production of 23,000 bpd. It was founded in 1990 and currently operates three acreages (Ebok and Okwok fields, as well as OML 115) offshore Akwa Ibom State. The company is a leading indigenous oil and gas company committed to sustainable human and capital development in the communities it has operations.

Indimi  disclosed that the company was dedicated to social inclusion and its approach was to grow alongside its communities in a socially responsible manner while operating in an environment that fostered value creation and sustainable development.

“Since we commenced operation, we have created an annual scholarship fund which has seen over 470 scholarships awarded since 2009, at post primary and tertiary levels to recipients in Akwa Ibom. We have also trained over 270 youths at seven Skill Acquisition Centres in Uyo, Oron, Eket and Ewang in Akwa Ibom state, all of whom received starter packs and start-up funds for their businesses.

“In addition, we have begun to engage other operators in Akwa Ibom State to create a sustained funding programme of sponsorship for the University of Uyo’s Department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering. We have also trained 500 women on business and financial literacy and given out seed funds to 200 community women to start up small scale businesses”, he said.

According to him, Oriental Energy continues to carry out periodic free medical outreaches with doctors, nurses and medical personnel to their host communities with over 20,000 persons having benefitted cumulatively. “We have also empowered the local fishermen by providing five modern fishing boats, nets and other equipment to enhance their productivity and economic growth”, he added.

Indimi also commended the host communities, the government and good people of Akwa Ibom State led by the visionary governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for their tremendous support and cooperation. “Today, as we break ground on this momentous project, I am indeed optimistic about the future; a future where we continue to collaborate as partners and stakeholders for the development of our communities”, he said.

Udom Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom, in his keynote address said, “my government and people have followed with keen interest, the exploits of Oriental Energy in the Nigerian Petroleum Sector. Some of these include the successful development of Ebok oil field and in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 115. This event in Enwang, Mbo local government Area, is one of such spectacular achievements.”

 

CHUKA UROKO