A high powered delegation from the United States of America led by Mr. Brandon Hudspeth, Head Political & Economic Chief and Acting Consular General, America Consulate in Nigeria, today paid a courtesy visit to the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba, at his palace in Oporoza, headquarters of the kingdom.
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The traditional ruler while receiving them said that the United States government should be more proactive in dealing with the people of the kingdom in terms of social responsibility delivery and international best practiced standard of oil exploration companies to the host communities as obtained in other climes across the globe.
Aketekpe said that during the last visit by the U.S Consulate General, John Bray, and the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, Blair King, some of the challenges which the kingdom is facing was mentioned to them such as Reclamation Project, Shore Protection Project, Oporoza canalization project, Omadinor- Okerenkoko- Escravos Tank farm road project, Escravos River and Environs Electrification Project, amongst others which nothing was done about till date.
He added that the U.S government should be more proactive in developmental aspect while dealing with the people of the kingdom, stressing that the USAID presence and other intervention agencies is needed in the kingdom in areas such as health intervention due to the environmental challenges caused by the oil exploration activities in our communities, such as Hydro Carbon pollution that affects the health of the people and source of livelihood as fishermen and women.
The pere also called for educational intervention for the children and the youths by equipping the school laboratories, stocking the libraries and providing scholarships for deserving students.
He also mentioned that skill acquisition programmes should be run for the women and youths, and empowerment of the youths, adding that the elderly and aged people should also be empowered in order to make life easier for the people.
He said in his words, “We want to reiterate and solicit to the U.S government whom we consider as our developmental partners to be more proactive in dealing with the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom in terms of social responsibility delivery and international best practiced standard of oil exploration companies to Host Communities as obtainable in other climes across the globe, we need more of USAID presence and other intervention agencies in Gbaramatu Kingdom.”
Lastly, Aketekpe stressed that the U S has banned some of Ijaw sons and daughters from travelling out to their country, and thereby, used the opportunity to tell the U.S Government to lift the ban so that their people can travel freely like they also do.
Mr Brandon Hudspeth, leader of the delegation while responding to Aketekpe, Agadagba said that all what he has said would be considered as part of it’s duty while they operate in the kingdom, he concluded by thanking Aketekpe for the warm reception given to them on their arrival as it shows that they are being accepted as colleagues, partners and most importantly, as neighbouring brothers and promised to be of good conduct as long as they operate in the kingdom.
By Enaibo Asiayei & Loveth Ojogun
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