By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT— FIVE communities around Shell Residential Area, RA, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have signed a GMoU with Shell Petroleum Development Company.

Inaugurating the RA Cluster Development Board,  made up of  three representatives from each of the communities in his office, yesterday,  state Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community  Affairs, Dr John Bazia, said the board was to drive development in the communities under the GMoU.

He said the oil firm operating in the communities was expected to set aside a certain percentage of its profit to discharge its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, to the communities.

According to the commissioner, the board would  meet with the communities to determine areas where the company could come in to assist.

He expressed hope that this would help reduce friction between  host communities and firms in the state.

He said: “There are five communities. It is  my responsibility as government representative to inaugurate them. We will not attach values for what they signed. GMoUs are platforms for community to drive their development. We have about five communities in the GMoU.”