Chevron Nigeria Limited has announced their plan to build a specialist hospital for mothers and children,  worth over N200m in the oil producing area of Ondo State, Ode Ugbo in ilaje council area.

Pius Orisabinone, the chairman of the Almagation of Ilaje Ugbo Coastal Communities Association (AMAICOMMA) which comprises oil producing communities in the LGA, said “The essence of this meeting is to brief our people on how far we have gone and what we are planning to do. We have built walkways and jetties from which over 40 communities have benefited.

“We also have Mother and Child Hospital coming on the way. It is going to be a world-class hospital and over N200 million has been set aside for it,” he said.

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Pius stated that the funds required to carry out the project is already available, acknowledging that all major stakeholders such as Chevron, the state government and AMAICOMMA are aware and ready to take action.

“We do not have issue of funds. It is already available and nothing can stop the project because we have signed the tripartite agreement.

“The community driven project will go a long way in tackling health problems in our locality.

“We are putting an end to the frequent death of our people in the course of transit to receive medical treatment in Ondo and Akure towns.

“Our sponsor, Chevron, has been very supportive in this direction because the essence is to save lives,” he stated.

He promised that all healthcare services provided would be highly affordable, and provide labor market for indigenes of the area, while also calling on the Federal government to rescue Ayetoro, a town in the area that was being affected by sea flooding, stating that the problem is way beyond the community and the state government.

Mrs. Busola Babalola, the Programme Manager of Participatory Partnership for Community Development (PPCD), Warri, said that PPCD had been able to carry out capacity building Programme through AMAICOMMA.

She also noted that PPCD was funded by Chevron, added that PPCD’s major roles were to enlighten, mentor and carry out resource mobilization programmes for oil producing areas in Nigeria.

“Part of our roles is to train the association that they must be accountable and accessible to the community so that people can have trust in them.

”We also ensure that they are fit to deliver to the communities through our advocacy programmes,” she stated.