West Africa Container Terminal-APM Terminals Nigeria is set to build a 713-metre flood drainage project at Onne Community, Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, on Monday.
WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria said the project addresses two of the four core areas of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions, namely Health & Environment, and Infrastructure Development.
The drainage system, once completed, will address long-standing issues of flooding, water stagnation and sanitation concerns in the community.
This project also underscores the company’s dedication to being a responsible and supportive partner to its host communities by investing in essential infrastructure that directly improves the lives of the residents in the community.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the managing director, WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria, Jeethu Jose, expressed enthusiasm for the project and its positive impact on the community.
He further cited examples of past projects in the community, which are all geared towards the continuous improvement of the community.
“As of today, we have carried out the following: scholarship and internship opportunities for students; 50 students from Onne are currently on university scholarship, and we are scaling up by offering 30 more students this year, with the award coming up later this month.
“Provision of 10KVA solar power system for the Model Primary Health
Care Centre, training of over 300 students and women in Onne in the production of eco-friendly reuseable diapers and sanitary pads, training of over 200 women and youths in WACTPRENEUR (a small business management training programme), and agricultural development programme for over 300 persons in Onne on cultivation and the value chain of orange fleshed sweet potatoes.
“And today, we are here to carry out the groundbreaking ceremony of Phase 1 of the 713-meter flood drain to tackle the persistent flooding of the Olumba Road during the rainy season,” said Jose.
Jose further reiterated the company’s commitment to continuously improve lives for the Onne Community, and that includes the inauguration of the plastic recycling plant in a few months, which will not only keep the environment clean but also help generate revenue for the community.
Community leaders at the event expressed their gratitude to WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria for the project.
“By the choice of the people, WACT accepted to execute a drainage system that will keep the community decent, healthy, good to look at, and well to patrol. It’s a well-deserved day for us, the Onne people. My people say that if we do anything we do with a clear heart, the reward will also be of a clear heart to any person who does that.
You
have come to open ground today to give us a good life, a healthy life,
because we all know the dangers of flooding in any community. It
brings carriers of various sicknesses, and there is no peace; it
affects the financial situation of families. By the groundbreaking
ceremony this morning, we are trying to curb infections/diseases in
the community, and you are taking care of our health. It is my
pleasure to be here today and witness the faces that are coming to do
this type of humanitarian job for us today. It is a remarkable one, we
have to keep it on record. We thank you so much for your desire to
accept the choice of the One people, giving priority to the drainage.
We assure you of our support,” said the Paramount Ruler of Onne, HRH
King Sunday Njijor Jiala, One-eh Onne.
Also speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, the WACT-APM
Terminals Nigeria Community Relations Manager, Justin Okwuofu,
recounted the renewed journey of WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria and the
Onne Community.
“We went to the community and carried out what we call full
participatory rural appraisal, to determine the needs of the people.
In development, we call it a transect walk. In WACT-APM Terminals
Nigeria, we call it Gemba, whereby we walked around the community to
identify their needs. It took us about one week to finish the
activity, and it was on that journey that this project was identified
by the community as a need, and today, we are here to do the
groundbreaking.”
