By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt

Indorama, Petrochemicals Limited has reaffirmed commitment to workplace safety, as it refuted negligence allegations levelled against it by one David Diepreye, an injured site worker of one of its contractors.

Briefing the Press at Eleme, the Company’s Headquarters in Rivers State, the Head Corporate Communications, Dr Jossy Nkwocha said the accident victim worked for SPEO Nig. Limited, a service contractor to Indorama Fertilizer Limited and as such, is not a staff of Indorama.

Nkwocha said that an accident had occurred on the 23rd of Dec. 2020 involving Diepreye, a Masher employed by SPEO Nig. Ltd and deployed to Indorama loading bay.

He said the victim during the accident sustained injury on both legs.

The Company’s Spokesman pointed out that Indorama was the first responder to the incident as it administered necessary first aid to the victim at the company’s clinic from where he was transferred to Rehoboth Medical Hospital, an SPEO retainer hospital where he was given orthopaedic treatment.

He also noted that at the time of the accident, SPEO was not registered with the National Social Insurance Trust Fund and as such was not covered by the Employee Compensation Act which also deprived the victim from accessing accruable benefits of workplace accidents.

“Consequently, on compassionate ground, Indorama took over the victims medical bills and also ensured that he remained on its payroll till date, his salary has been paid up to date,” Nkwocha said.

He further explained that the victim continued taking treatment as an outpatient after over two years of receiving corrective surgery co-sponsored by his direct employer (SPEO) and Indorama.

Nkwocha however, revealed that the victim had instituted a lawsuit against his parent company (SPEO) and Indorama demanding further medical attention valued at N8.5m legal fee.

He said that further investigation with the Claimant’s lawyer, SPEO and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) which was expected to handle the corrective surgery revealed that the cost implications of the surgery was N1.9m.

According to him, dissatisfied with the process chosen for his surgery, the victim resorted to allegations and maligning Indorama’s reputation even when he was not a direct employee.

…Says State will witness development during his tenure

The Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has pledged to operate an inclusive governance.

This is as the Governor also assured citizens of sustainable development and transformation of the state with the efficient implementation of his administration’s MORE Agenda.

The Governor spoke when he received on a congratulatory and solidarity visit, the State Advisory and Peace Building Council led by Professor Sam Oyovbaire, at Government House, Asaba.

According to Oborevwori, “Building a new Delta State was possible with the input of leaders and all other stakeholders from the three senatorial districts and pledged to carry everybody along in the scheme of things.”

He said the evident voluntary expression of joy by people from all corners of the state, following the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court was a clear indication that he was loved by Deltans, assuring that he would remain a servant-leader.

The Governor also expressed delight at the visit, commended the elder statesmen for their support and prayers, assuring that his administration would work to revamp infrastructure in the state.

He praised the Advisory and Peace building Council noting that it was populated with men and women of proven integrity, and charged them to offer suggestions that would enrich and align the policy direction of his administration.

He said the visit would not only spur him to do more through his development blueprint, but afforded him the opportunity to tap from their fountain of knowledge.

“I want to gain from the fountain of knowledge of these great leaders, hence we selected these outstanding individuals and great leaders. So, it is a great joy to me as you have come to congratulate me.

“You see the effect of the victory on our people. They celebrated the victory in all the 25 local government areas, it was spontaneous and profound.

“I have said I am going to be governor for all Deltans and I will continue to serve this state in line with my M.O.R.E Agenda. I want to assure you that your son will continue to serve this state as a servant-leader in line with my M.O.R.E Agenda.

“You are aware that in the last 20 years, it was only recently, in fact, this December, that there was a peaceful celebration of Christmas and New Year in the Warri area because of the peace that we are enjoying and we will continue to sustain that peace as we move forward.

“It is my prayer that you will not labour in vain; you will witness the transformation of this state, into a new Delta, because that is your dream and I want to assure you that I will not disappoint you and I will not disappoint Deltans.

“Your advice is very key to this administration. I want to be getting advice from you; when you hold your meetings, feel free to tell us where we are doing well as a government and it will encourage us to do more.”

“Where we are not doing well, you tell us. Nobody knows it all; so, we need to tap from the wealth of your experience,” Oborevwori said.

Earlier, Professor Oyovbaire said that the victory of Oborevwori had rekindled the faith of the people in the judicial system in the pursuit of justice, adding that the victory laid to rest undue distraction of the Governor in the governance of the people.

“The victory puts to rest undue distraction of Your Excellency in governance of our people and wasteful expenditure on the judicial exercise

“You can now renew your dedicated focus on your continuing good governance of our people as well as the conduct of state affairs in consonance with their overwhelming wishes and aspirations for more security and welfare,” Prof. Oyovbaire remarked.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Commission to assist security agencies operating in the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku stated this during two separate courtesy visits by the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdulsalam and the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Okechukwu Igbo, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stressed the need for collaboration to ensure that the Niger Delta region remained peaceful, noting that development could only take place in an atmosphere of peace and security.

He declared, “Development and security are intertwined because without security there will be no development and where there is security and development there will be prosperity. For the Niger Delta to be peaceful, we need both development and security. Incidentally, the foundation for development is security, hence there is a need for collaboration between the NDDC and security agencies.”

Ogbuku observed that since NDDC had an obligation to support security agencies, it needed a secure environment to effectively discharge its mandate as an intervention agency.

He noted, “We have always supported military formations and security agencies and we are willing to do more. Last year, we did a lot for the Nigerian Navy. Our contributions are aimed at enhancing and supporting what you are doing here in the region and also to complement what we are doing in the area of development.

“I appreciate the security agencies for the job they are doing in the Niger Delta region because the region is relatively peaceful compared to other regions in the country. I thank the Navy for doing a good job and making sacrifices for our collective well-being.”

Ogbuku advised the Navy and other security agencies to be proactive and rely more on intelligence gathering to nip security challenges in the bud.

Supporting the security agencies, he said, also entailed engaging the youths in the region in various skills by training them to ensure that they were gainfully employed.

Speaking earlier, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, noted that the development of the Niger Delta region could not take place without peace.

He remarked, “We need each other to succeed. We want to cement the existing relationship between NDDC and the Army.”

The GOC commended the NDDC for providing solar-power streetlights at the Army Barracks in the four states and appealed for more support in providing facilities in the barracks under the 6 Division.

He stated, “We provide security to oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region. We cover four states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta States and we safeguard all oil and gas installations in the four states.”

Similarly, the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, commended the NDDC for co-operating with security agencies working in the Niger Delta region to ensure peace, stating, “We will continue to protect the territorial integrity of the country and all its national assets.”

He said the Navy would continue to discharge its duties to the country, including maintaining peace in the Niger Delta region, which he affirmed was necessary for sustainable development to thrive.

The Commander NNS Pathfinder urged the NDDC management to continue to support security forces in the region and promised to sustain the cordial relationship between the Navy and the Commission.