Blessing Okorite, Port Harcourt
Belema Pipeline Limited, a subsidiary of Belemaoil Limited has, again, proved to be host community-friendly as it dishes out millions of Naira to alleviate the suffering of residents of Robertkiri Riverine settlement, in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Against claims that Robertkiri settlers were forcefully ejected by the said Belema Pipeline Limited after acquiring the land from Chevron Texaco, residents of the community said they were satisfactory appreciated by the company in Naira amounting to thousands and millions.
They disclosed that they willingly relocated from the land for development to come in, adding that though the land was illegally occupied, yet the new landlord showed them love through unmerited appreciation.
They also disclosed that they were occupying the land illegally after the property was bought by Golf Oil in 1964 and divested to Chevron, then Belema Pipeline Limited.
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The settlers, however, commended the President of Belema Pipeline Limited, Engr. Tein Jack-Rich, for alleviating their suffering and reintegrating them into comfortable and happy lifestyle.
Residents of Robertkiri made this disclosure at the weekend when The Nigerian Xpress visited the demolished Robertkiri Riverine Settlement meant for Dehydration Unit Tank Farm, an ongoing project by Belema Pipeline Limited, a facility that would manage the produce water that comes out with crude oil.
In an interview with our correspondent, Chief Ibroma Kelly Brown, High Chief of Robertkiri said, “This land Robertkiri and its environment have been acquired by Golf Oil Nigeria Limited in January 1964, and with the respect of canalisation, the people decide to settle on their own.
“But to the glory of God Chevron inherited the place and now Belema Pipeline Limited has now also inherited the place.
“We have Gas plant here, Belema Pipeline project that is coming to enable us get more job, employment, progress and contracts.
“It is a programme that we never thought of but we give God the glory for Engr. Tein Jack-Rich who has enabled this company to be and come to bring light to our eyes for us to see what we have not seen before.
“We were not forced to move away from this place because we took numeration of every residents of this place and seek their consent to attract development to this place which is also for all our benefits.
“We have a better place to pull and carry on and wait for the progress that is going to come, this place is turning to Dubai whether you like it or not”, Chief Brown added.
On his part, Pastor Baribo Vekuna, Pastor of Robertkiri Assembly, said “I am thanking Belema Pipeline for the greater support it has given to Robertkiri people, to carry us out of this place. He has paid us better money and the money can help us meet up our demand. He gave money to strangers in the land. May God bless him and prosper him”.
Spokesperson of Kula Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, Alabo (Engr) Fiala Okoye-Davies, who also spoke on the benevolent gestures by the company said, “It is a momentous experience; a landmark and hallmark in history where Belema Pipeline Limited has come to appreciate the people that are residents in Robertkiri because this land is built to making an Industrial City that is going to look global in the like of Singapore, US, in the like of other oil cities in the world.
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“So, we appreciate the settlers who agreed to relocate because whatever you appreciate keeps appreciating.
“We believe that if this place becomes an industrial and oil industry city is going to bring some benefit that will accrue to the people of Kula in general.
“We express our profound gratitude to them and we the Kula Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, we are well in support of this project because we know that it is a rear development that is coming to our place.
“We want to crave the indulgence of the entire populace that nobody was forcefully ejected but it was based on mutual agreement, it was an understanding, a benefit that has been accrued to the people.
“I want the public to take notice that nobody was ejected but the residents were paid ex-gratia.
“This land has been acquired as far back as 1964 by Golf Oil, Chevron and then Belema Pipeline Limited”.
Ekine Japus, who is President-General, Kula Youths Organisation, while appreciating the management of the company said, “We are very grateful to Belema Pipeline Limited for what they have done, for coming down to Robertkiri to relocate the residents here. What has happened here honestly will benefit more of youths than any other persons.
“And so we believe that whatever will happen here as a youth we will be the first beneficiaries”.
Meanwhile, Director of the Parent company of Belema Pipeline Limited, Mufaa Welsh, at the company DHU Tanks Farm, also appreciated the Robertkiri residents for the peaceful exodus.
He assured them that the company would provide all necessary amenities to the former residents of Robertkiri wherever they have relocated to.
His words, “We have come here to Belema Industry Island, to appreciate and thank the persons that have agreed to move out for development to come in.
“We have alot of projects that will be coming up in the near future, especially for now you will see some reclamation activities embarked which have been extended to this Island.
“But we say that it is not good to keep persons here why the projects are ongoing because it is going to impact negatively.
“So, we have actually given them something last week to move, hundreds of millions for the occupants of this place to move to a better location which they have done last week Friday.
“Still in appreciation mood to tell them that we are grateful for their peaceful Exodus from this place.
“The founder and President of Belema Pipeline Limited, has also sent something to them as a sign of appreciation that he loves them, he cares for them and he is going to do so many things for them.
“These opportunities as they are coming are going to be beneficiary to the community people, especially the youths. All the jobs that are coming up by next week that the week that the equipment will be shifted into this place from Onne.
“We have directed our contractor to move in water to them where they are now. We have also put in place a plan to make sure that all the neighbouring communities in this area doesn’t suffer from the little amenities that they will need, like; roads, water electricity and security. We will provide it to them to make sure they are happy especially where they are moving to”.
Welsh also appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for given the company opportunity to manage a terminal which is attracting development to their host communities.
“I really want to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for providing this opportunity for us to hatch on. He has given us terminal that impregnated and born all these projects that are coming up”.
