We are committed to environmental protection, community development, and others — Chevron

By Eyo Nsima

Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, a leading international energy company, has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental protection and community development in its areas of operation.
In its 2021 Social Responsibility Report obtained by The Daily, www.thedaily-ng.com, CNL, stated that this was achieved through the deployment of suitable and harmless technologies.
Besides, CNL also disclosed that it made significant social investments in host communities and other areas, targeted at stimulating sustainable development in the nation.

Environmental sound operation
The report stated: “Chevron entities in Nigeria have a strong commitment to keeping a safe and clean environment in all their operations. We sustain our investment in advanced technologies for identifying, tracking, and managing key aspects of our operations with the wider deployment of the Lead Detection and Repair (LDAR) programme in our facilities. LDAR helps to detect hydrocarbon leaks (fugitive emissions), which normally would not be seen by the eye or detected by regular gas detectors, for effective leaks fixing processes.”

Social investment
In the area of social investment, the report maintained that, “Chevron Nigeria invests in programmes that focus on healthcare, education, and economic development for thousands of people in Nigeria. The investments enable human progress and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through our business operations, partnership initiatives and social investment opportunities, we recognize the critical need to work with key partners, communities, and industry groups to make positive contributions to the society.
“In our effort to help create prosperity wherever we operate, we are inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which seek to achieve a more sustainable future and make progress toward a global 2030 agenda. Chevron touches all 17 SDGs through our business operations, partnership initiatives and social investment opportunities. In focusing on the four goals discussed below, we stress our recognition of the critical needs.”

Health
In the area of health, it disclosed that, “SDG 3: Good health and well-being ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Business success is tied to society’s progress. In its over 60 years of operation in Nigeria, Chevron has supported the Nigerian health sector through the provision of several critical equipments to strategic health facilities and sponsorship of capacity building and awareness activities. The intent is to ensure that communities neighbouring Chevron operations in the Niger Delta area and beyond have access to quality healthcare. Under its national health programme, Chevron Nigeria 2021 collaborated with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Lagos State government to support the provision of the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Centre.

“The centre is managed by the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria (SCFN). Chevron donated a Flow Cytometer System for the stem cell laboratory. This is one of the equipments required for stem cell harvesting and it is critical for the treatment of persons with sickle cell disorder. As part of its community health intervention programme, CNL provided four Mobile digital X-ray machines to four cottage hospitals in communities under our GMoU in the Niger Delta. The company donated an automated chemistry analyzer and a digital X-ray machine film printer to St Kizito Clinic, Lekki to boost its support to the Clinic over the years towards the treatment of Tuberculosis in Nigeria. St Kizito Clinic receives more than 20,000 patients annually and has been a major reference treatment and diagnostic centre in the Lekki area of Lagos. It also provides affordable health care to indigent patients.”

COVID-19 pandemic
The report, which noted the company’s contribution to fighting the Coronavirus pandemic, stated: “The NNPC/CNL JV commenced the construction of a 24-unit doctors’ quarters at the General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos. The project is part of the NNPC/ CNL JV’s intervention projects to support the Lagos State government in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is a three-floor building and will consist of 24 studio apartments, common rooms, lobby, facility management office, car park, water storage facility and alternative power supply. NNPC/CNL JV also donated a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory to the Warri Central Hospital to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Delta State, and also donated some equipment and supplies to Ondo State. The JV also supported increased vaccination support to employees in Escravos by partnering with Delta State government to have doctors in the location.”

Education
In the area of education, it stated: “SDG 4: Quality education ensures inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all. In line with its commitment to support the Nigerian government provide quality education to Nigerians, the company in 2021, continued with its scholarship programme.”
Specifically, these included the NNPC/CNL JV national university scholarship awards, community scholarship awards and scholarships for the blind/visually impaired awards.

NNPC/CNL JV national university scholarship awards
The report noted that “This is a merit-based scholarship award in specific fields of study given to deserving undergraduate students from all states of the federation, including Abuja. In 2021, a total of 1,152 students benefitted from the award.”

Community scholarship awards
It stated: “This programme caters for students in both secondary and tertiary institutions from communities in our areas of operations (GMoU and Non-GMoU communities). Scholarships for the GMoU communities are fully administered by the Regional Development Committees (RDCs) with over N250M allocated annually to the RDCs for bursaries and administrative costs since 2009. For non-GMoU communities, awards are granted yearly through nominations submitted to CNL by the communities’ representatives. In 2021, a total of N37, 200,000 was paid to 860 beneficiaries.”

Scholarship for the blind/visually impaired awards
It also disclosed that “The NNPC/CNL JV scholarship for the blind/ visually impaired was designed to enhance access to quality education by visually impaired students in Nigeria. The scholarship amount is N150,000.00 per academic session for each student successfully verified. In 2021, a sum of N19,650,000 was disbursed to 131 new and existing beneficiaries.”

Employee volunteer programme
They added, “The company’s Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP) provides an opportunity for employees to contribute to improving the quality of life of people in communities around and beyond the company’s areas of operation. The amount contributed by the employees is matched by the company. In 2021, CNL employees through this programme contributed N2,023,000 to pay the school fees of some students of RACO Child and Rural Care Initiative Orphanage Home, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.”