We will ensure funds for host communities under PIA are properly utilised — NNPC Ltd
NNPC Limited has reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring that funds allocated under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) are efficiently utilised to drive tangible development in host communities.
This commitment was underscored during a stakeholder engagement session with the KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), a coalition of host communities comprising Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, Sangana, Opu Okumbiri, Okumbiribeleu, and Oginibiri in Bayelsa State.
The session, held at the weekend, was organised under the NNPC Limited/FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P) Joint Venture (JV).
Speaking at the engagement forum in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Seyi Omotowa, reiterated NNPC Ltd’s dedication to ensuring that funds earmarked for host communities under the PIA are directed towards impactful projects addressing education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Represented by Deputy Manager, External Relations, NUIMS, Mrs. Edith Lawson, Engr. Omotowa stressed that collaborative efforts between stakeholders were essential in delivering lasting socio-economic progress.
In his address, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, praised the NNPC Ltd/FIRST E&P JV for sustaining its strategic alliance with KEFFESO HCDT.
He also urged community leaders to foster peace and stability, emphasising that without a peaceful environment, companies would struggle to operate effectively—ultimately impacting the 3% Host Community Fund set aside by the PIA for development initiatives.
Similarly, Executive Commissioner for Safety, Environment, and Community at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Captain John Tonlagha, who represented NUPRC’s Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, commended the institutionalisation of the community development trust initiative.
He described it as a transformative step for Nigeria’s petroleum sector, introducing much-needed governance, transparency, and accountability in community development efforts.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Board’s Director of Legal Services, Barr. Naboth Onyesoh, also lauded the KEFFESO HCDT for its dedication to sustainable development within the PIA framework. He further commended NUPRC for successfully incorporating over 100 Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) to drive socio-economic progress in the region.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of FIRST E&P, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, represented by Mr. John Alamu, praised the KEFFESO HCDT for establishing a platform that fosters dialogue, collaboration, and accountability, describing it as a model for other host community development trusts to adopt.
The Chairman of the KEFFESO HCDT, His Royal Highness Moses Theophilus, expressed appreciation to the NNPC Limited/FIRST E&P JV for taking proactive measures to ensure that the KEFFESO communities reap substantial benefits from the PIA framework.
The forum concluded with a unified call for ongoing cooperation, underlining the fact that the success of the PIA hinges on strong partnerships, stability, and a collective dedication to community development.
