Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, David Irimagha says the tenement rates being paid by various multinationals in the area would henceforth be utilized for development purposes as the era of sharing of such funds by a few politicians was over.

He further stated that various developmental projects and programmes would be pursued with the accrued funds while simultaneously pursuing a review of the parameters of determining specific amounts being paid as tenement rates by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited (MPNL), among others operating in the community.

Irimagha, who stated this in a chat with Kristina Reports in Bonny during the week, explained that the development deficit being suffered by the local government area was unjustified.

“You must have heard that a few people sit down and share tenement rate that should have been used for developing the LGA, but I can tell that if such ever happened before it can no longer happen now as we shall use whatever funds that come for the development of the place,” he said.

Bonny Local Government Council annually receives about N500 million from various multinationals without any commensurate development to justify the receipt of such humongous revenue.

This has remained a burning issue among stakeholders who maintain that such amount if committed to development could go a long way in assuaging the telling deficit in infrastructural development in the area.

But the incumbent Bonny LG boss told Kristina Reports that the recently received tenement rates paid by the multinationals in the current financial year would be deployed to fund the various projects recently advertised by the Bonny LG Council.

These include the construction of an ultra-modern shopping mall inside the new Bonny Main Market along the King Perekule Bypass; clearing of the Right-of-Way and sandfilling of Simidia Airport Link Road; purchase and distribution of 2000 desks for primary schools in Bonny LGA; and construction of the collapsed bridge linking at Abalamabie which connects the community to LongJohn and Bonny Main Town.

Others are erosion and flood control in Bonny and adjoining communities; renovation of public schools in Bonny LGA; rehabilitation and equipping of primary healthcare centres; rehabilitation and furnishing of Bonny Legislative Assembly Building and living quarters for the Leader and Secretary’s quarters; rehabilitation and furnishing of offices at the Bonny Local Government Council Secretariat; construction of abattoir; and completion of third staff quarters opposite the Corpers’ Lodge, Bonny.

The Bonny LGA Chairman reiterated his commitment to make good his promise upon assumption of office that his tenure in office would be an era of visible and sustainable development that is people-centred.