In keeping with our policy for long-term community development, we are committed to the economic empowerment of Nigeria's people, a key factor toward sustainable development. Through partnerships with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Nigerian government at various levels, and of course, with the people in communities themselves, we are participating in laying the groundwork for a better quality of life in Nigeria: for human development, health, infrastructural development and agriculture.

Stimulating and supporting the communities to take responsibility for their own development underlines our philosophy towards sustainable development. In partnership with Nigerian authorities at all levels, Total Upstream supports community-defined, long-term development programmes. In 2003, Total devoted some 17 million dollars to its programme of socio-economic initiatives in Nigeria.

Raising standards of living for today and tomorrow

In a growing partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), we are carrying out participatory rural appraisals driven by focused group discussions for communities in OML 58, where the Group has been active for more than 40 years, some 20 communities have benefited from the construction of roads, schools, hospitals, electrification and water supply, as well as scholarships.
The result: a multi-year development plan for all target communities. In both Rivers and Akwa-Ibom States, whose coastal communities is closest to Total's offshore operations, Total has joined forces with ProNatura, a non-governmental organization with significant involvement in the Delta region. Direct beneficiaries of our new development plan are identified via community categories. They include:

HOST COMMUNITIES - communities on whose land the company has been producing oil and gas and has wells and/or oil and gas production facilities, office or housing facilities as well as communities that are on the coastline and which are near our offshore operational facilities. These include, Delta State:(OML 57), Aja-Osolo, Ifi e-kporo,Obodo, Omadino,Orugbo, Uwakenoand Ogunu-WarriRivers State:(OML 8) Akabuka,Amah, Erema, EleleAlimini, Elele-Okinali,Idu, Obagi, Obite, biyebe,Oboburu, Ogboguand Rumuekpe.Port Harcourt: Mgbesiliaruand Rebisi.Lagos State: Etiosa local government area.

ETHNIC COMMUNITIES - communities which are of the same ethnic nationalities as our host communities, but which have none of our facilities on their land, nor are affected by our offshore operations. Onshore, such communities may lie outside our concession areas. An example is the Egi Ethnic communities(Non-producing); Akabta, Ede, Egita, Ibewa, Itu-Ogba, Obigbor, Obiozimni, Obukegi, Ohalielu and Ukperemini.

COASTLINE COMMUNITIES - Arising from our offshore (near shore and deep offshore) operations, selected communities along the Nigerian coast constitute costal communities. Given the distance of these concessions from shore, and for practical purposes, these communities are considered for developmental purpose through their State Government in the case of Akwa Ibom State or local government areas like Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro. The local government areas considered are those that are either directly on the coastline or those that have tidal rivers within their shores. LGAs are selected on the basis that our offshore operations (including movement of boats) could have a direct impact on their ecological environment. They include: Rivers State: Andoni, Bonny, Khana and Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Areas. Akwa Ibom State: Eastern Obolo, Eket, Esit Eket, Etinan, Ikot Abasi, Ibeno, Ibiono Ibom, Itu, Mbo, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Ubium, Onna, Okobo, Oron, Oruke-Anam, Udonguko, Ukanafun, Uruan and Urue-Offong Oruko Local Government Areas.

PIPELINE COMMUNITIES - are communities where our trunk lines pass.

In Nigeria, Total Upstream's philosophy is manifest in a wide range of concrete initiatives that contribute to the country's economic development, such as the Nigerianization of the local workforce, including the highest levels of management and to its commitment of encouraging Nigerian enterprises to take part in construction projects related to its oil developments. The Group provides :

Skills Development programme

For three years now, about 1, 200 youths from Akwa Ibom, Delta and Rivers States have benefited from our skills development programme, which teaches them a wide range of trades from welding & fabrication, to hairdressing, fashion and design and plumbing, computer operations, electrical installation, electronic maintenance, GSM Handset Repairs, Photography and videography, carpentry, building and masonry. The scheme's objective: prepare youths to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of their communities through gainful self-employment in their various trades, employ others and in the long-term, to pass on their knowledge to others.

Agricultural and Micro-credit programme

The Agricultural programme in OML58 also represents a major stride in the execution of projects that empower the people economically. Since 1994, the Oboburu pilot farm near Obagi has helped 5,000 regional farmers acquire mastery of modern farming, livestock and fishing techniques. Another farm at Elele was established in 2002 and it has reached out to about 650 farmers in the Elele axis. In partnership with some fund providers, a micro-credit scheme was set up in 2003 for enterprise development in the host communities.

Community business initiative and talent trading programmes

These unique economic empowerment programmes are designed to create new approaches to income management and investment. Series of workshops are organised in partnership with NGOs aimed at developing managerial skills to manage businesses successfully. The NNPC/EPNL Joint Venture provides the initial support base through take off grants in the form of rent for business location and basic tools for trainees of the skills development programme, and award of contracts to community members. The objective, is to explore the possibility of turning around the beneficiaries from total dependence on the company, to investment creativity using the contracts and funds received from the company, as a launching pad.

Health care

In terms oh Health Care, the NNPC/ EPNL Joint Venture strategy is to bring health care nearer to the people. We contribute to building, renovations and equipment for community hospitals, donate ambulances and medications, sponsor free community healthcare programmes and campaign against AIDS locally.

• In 2002, the Joint Venture sponsored Community Free Health Programmes at Abak in Akwa Ibom State and Opobo Town in Rivers State. During the programme, patients including those from surrounding towns and villages, received free consultation, drugs and natural health/nutritional education, natural supplements for infants and children, dental surgical and ophthalmic treatment (including free eye surgeries/free glasses). More than 6,000 patients benefited from the programme which was under the auspices of a nongovernmental organisation, Pro-Health/ Family Care, in partnership with other national humanitarian associations. To date, six of such free health programmes have been held in the two states, with additional 18,000 beneficiaries.

• The company undertook the renovation and equipping of the Erema hospital in the Ogba-Egbema Ndoni local government area (ONELGA), Rivers State and the Ikot-Idaha health centre in Ikono LocaIdaha health centre in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State among several others. These projects cost over N45 million. The health centres offer a wide range of medical services including child delivery, antenatal and postnatal classes, in and out patient consultation and services, as well as community health enlightenment for many rural communities. A new Hospital located at Obagi Community in Rivers State is under construction. Valued at about N58 million Naira, the Egi hospital will have all necessary facilities/units obtainable in any standard hospital, when it becomes operational.

• In addition, the NNPC/EPNL Joint Venture donated two ambulance vehicles to Delta Manna Foundation near Warri in Delta State and to the Erema hospital, for emergency health care delivery.

• The Joint Venture has also been in the fore front of the campaign to eradicate HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases through its own initiative and in collaboration with State Governments, the NYSC and non-governmental organisations. In 2002, it organised the Great AIDS Walk in ONELGA in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health. Over five thousand people including traditional rulers, elders, women and youths from 42 communities in OML 58 in Rivers State and beyond participated in the 3km walk from Ede to Ogbogu community square for the rally against HIV/AIDS.