4.

7 COMMUNITY AFFAIRS PLAN

The Niger Delta is one of the world’s largest wetlands and includes by far the largest
mangrove forest in Africa. Within this extremely valuable ecosystem, oil activities are
widespread – The Delta produce 75 percent of Nigeria’s petroleum, which represents a
substantial amount of national government revenues. However, despite its vast oil
reserves, the region remains poor. Gross National product (GNP) per capita is below
the national average. Unemployment is also well above the national average. Optimal
resource and land use in the region is constrained by a lack of development, stagnant
agricultural productivity, very limited opportunities in urban areas, rapid population
growth, the generally poor health of the expanding population and tenuous property
rights. Conflicts have developed between local communities and private and public
developers over resource ownership and use, particularly tied to oil activities.

4.7.1 General Background Information:

GEOPLEX has through its sister companies, Fairshores Nigeria Limited and Nitex Oil &
Gas Services carried out many projects for the oil industry since 1992. In its sole
capacity, GEOPLEX has also carried out numerous projects in the oil industry since
2002. GEOPLEX has established offices in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Warri.

• Target and Objectives:

a. Assist the local communities in improving their way of life in a sustainable manner.
b. Ensure the site works progress smoothly and compatibly with the local communities,
without any conflicts.
c. Acknowledge and treat the community members and their environment, with respect.
d. Add measurable value to its immediate community as well as the extended
community in a bid to foster the general nation building objectives of the Federal and
Municipal governments.

• Purpose of Planning:
The purpose of this community Affairs plan is:
a) To outline Geoplex role in the active participation in the philosophy and
implementation of the Client Community Development plan for the project areas.
b) To implement a Community Affairs policy that must be distributed to all employees
working on the job sites to facilitate a beneficial working relationship between the
communities and the company throughout the project.
c) To endeavour to identify all CA issues arising during the performance of the work.
d) To define the responsibilities and work of the project personnel regarding CA issues.

4.7.2 Management Policy Statement:

Geoplex is committed to maintaining mutual beneficial relationships with host
communities.
We fully recognise that community affairs concerns are of prime importance for
satisfactory and proper execution of the work in serving Client and the communities.
The management will work in close liaison and in harmony with the Client CA
organization so that our community effort is not perceived to be in competition with that
of the Client.
The company’s management ensures that every employee, regardless of operational
level, is aware of his personal responsibility to follow good practices concerning CA
through a policy of instruction and awareness meetings.

The above policy will be augmented, as a minimum with the following procedures.

Should a problem arise, Geoplex personnel will report to the Community Affairs/SHE
Manager, who will in turn inform Clients’ Liaison Officer in order to rectify the situation
and maintain communication. The management, working with the Client will contact the
community representative to determine the nature of the problem and a resolution.

This policy is usually available all company personnel working on any job site. The
policy is also reviewed on a regular basis to ensure compliance to changing operating
conditions and environment.

4.7.3 Management Responsibilities:

Community Affairs/SHE Manager

The CASHES Manager is responsible for the execution of the Community Affairs
program and work with the Client’s Community Affairs Office on maintaining cordial
relationship with local communities where Geoplex operates.
• The CASHES Manager shall co-operate with CLIENT appointed community liaison
officers to ensure a coordinated approach to community relations.
• The CASHES Manager is responsible for opening and updating a CA register, which
will be maintained in the base office, where he shall record any problem arising from
the relations with the local communities.
• Participates in investigation, assists in analyzing causes of community incidents and
makes recommendations for corrective and/or preventive actions.
• Processes all paperwork and reports.
• Maintains working relationship with Client, insurance carrier representatives, local
communities, local medical and fire services and state safety agencies.
• CASHES Manager has direct access to Geoplex Managing Director when
necessary urgent decisions that require upper management intervention in
emergency cases.

4.7.4 Client Community Affairs Interface Management:

• Role and Responsibilities

Community Affairs will be implemented in a totally integrated way with Client. The Client
is to be informed at all times of any development. The Client will be instrumental in the
execution of the majority of CA initiatives.

• Community Affairs Actions

Client will be responsible for providing community development (CD) projects in the
host communities. The contractor will be required to provide assistance to Client to
complement Client’s effort. Geoplex community efforts shall be harmonized with that of
Client so that both parties are not perceived to be in competition with each other.

4.7.5 Conflict Resolution:

The preferred and recommended action for resolution of any type of conflict is through
dialogue with all relevant parties participating in a peaceful meeting. The Client shall be
represented in any such meeting.
Use of any form of armed security personnel is forbidden. Such action must be taken
jointly by the Client and security authorities.

4.7.6 Operation of Boats

Geoplex will use the Client Boat facilities for transportation of equipment and personnel
and will adhere to the Client safety and Ca rules. In situations where we have to
organise such Boat transportation due to operations conditions, the following rules must
be observed to reduce risk and exposure:

• No night sailing, except in case of emergency (with special authorisation).

• Boat must be equipped with Radio for contact purposes.
• Boats are required to reduce speed when overtaking local canoes, or when passing
villages.
• Boat operator must avoid the fish traps or fishing nets set by the Communities.

Any problem arising with the host community must be reported to the CASHES
Manager as soon as possible. He will liase together with Client to contact the
community representatives to determine the nature of the problem and resolution.

4.7.7 Meeting with Affected Communities

Before mobilisation and as soon as possible after effective date, the company project
management and the CLIENT Representative will meet with the community
representatives (the landlord communities) concerned with the work and will pay a
courtesy call on the traditional rulers with customary homage.
The company appointed community affairs Manager and his local team will be officially
presented to the community.

4.7.8 Community Assistance Plan

In co-ordination with the Client, Geoplex will investigate community projects that can be
implemented and propose assistance to the community to achieve those projects. A
community Assistance Plan with in the company’s capability will be established with a
budget in order to fit with the community Development plan of the Client.

4.7.9 CA Performance Record:

CASHES Manager will keep a central register of all the CA issues raised in any
community of operations. Such record will specify the dates, originator and method of
resolution / response.

4.7.10 Audit and Corrective Plan:

In line with normal business practice the Geoplex will initiate and carry out a system of
inspection and checking to ensure operations are performed in an efficient manner
without much interruption by community disturbances.
CA auditing is a method which will give a reasonable indication of how well the Client
and Geoplex CA program is working in all its aspects.
Audits will also aim to promote contact with individual employees as a manifestation of
management’s interest and concern to gain their involvement, to encourage comments
and suggestions relating to CA.

4.7.11 Incident Investigation and follow-up:

One of the tools which Geoplex will use reduce incidents is the investigation of any
incident that may occur in agreement with the Client. The primary purpose of this
exercise is to determine the cause(s) of the incident and use these facts to prevent a
recurrence in the future. It is therefore a policy of Geoplex that every employee must
report, immediately to his Supervisor, any incident which occurs to him, his fellow
employee(s) at operations site. The Supervisor, in turn, will contact the CASHES
Manager who is expected to investigate the incident to determine the surrounding
circumstances, which made it happen. He should attempt to resolve the conditions that
were responsible through the Client CA office. Where such causes cannot be
immediately rectified, he should make recommendations to management on what
measures to be implemented to prevent re-occurrence.
Investigation must be conducted as a fact finding and not faultfinding mission. The
CASHES Manager will issue statistics to be included as part of the HSES incident
reporting in the monthly report. All recommended remedies must go through the Client
Community Affairs office for approval of any implementation.