In compliance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, and the Host Communities’ Development Trust Regulations, 2022, Oriental Energy Resources Limited, an oil company operating in Akwa Ibom State, has inaugurated Effiat and Mbo Host Communities’ Development Trust in Uyo on Wednesday May 22.
The members of the Host Communities’ Development Trust are; Barr. Inam Effiong Okon, Chairman; Barr. Asuquo Asuquo Okpo, member; Mr. Kedrick Solomon Isangedighi, member, and Dr. Ikwo Agamtem Ekuma, member.
Others are; Engr. Okpo Etim Etim, member; Alice-Joe Mfon Henry, member; Mr. Edet Asukwo Inyang, member, and CSP Etim Etim Ediete, member.
The Effiat and Mbo Host Communities’ Development Trust, comprising eight members from Uda, Udesi, Ebughu and Enwang Communities in Mbo Local Government Area, has statutory objectives to the host communities which are; to finance and execute projects for the benefits and sustainable development of the host communities; undertake infrastructural development of the host communities within the scope of funds available to the Board of Trustees; and facilitate economic empowerment opportunities in the host communities.
Others include; to advance and propagate educational development for the benefits of members of the host communities; support healthcare development for the host communities; support local initiatives within the host communities which seek to enhance security, as well as protection of the environment, invest part of the available funds for and on behalf of the host communities, and assist in any other developmental purpose deemed beneficial to the host communities as may be determined by the Board of Trustees.
In an address at the inauguration, the Managing Director, Oriental Energy Resources Limited, Mr. Mutafa Indimi, said the company, since inception in Akwa Ibom, has executed a lot of projects in the host communities which he said cut across community health, education, human capital building, as well as enterprise development.
The Managing Director, who was represented by Mr. Kazeem Koleoso, particularly mentioned that in 2020, the company completed and handed over to Mbo Youth Empowerment Foundation, a fully equipped printing and reprographic facility located at Enwang.
He also recalled how Oriental Energy, in 2020, sponsored the training and certification of 15 youths from the host communities in welding and fabrication technology, saying all the projects and many other development initiatives by the company were a deliberate statutory act to ensure compliance.
In his words, ” since we began operations in Akwa Ibom, Oriental Energy has taken a deliberate and long-term approach to supporting communities that host us. This is evident in the projects and programmes we have completed with respect to community health, education and human capital development, enterprise development and support, as well as capacity building for sustainable development.
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“In 2020, we sponsored the training and certification of fifteen youths in welding and fabrication technology. With specific reference to Effiat Community, in 2022, we completed and handed over the primary school building with toilet facilities in Ibuot Utan Village. The teachers’ quarters in the same school will be completed within the next two months”.
The Managing Director, who explained that the process of establishing the Effiat and Mbo Host Communities’ Development Trust was transparent, inclusive and participatory, said Oriental Energy had prepared the Host Community Development Plan for the Trust, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
On the expectations of the company from the Trust, Mr. Indimi expressed optimism that the Board of Trustees, the management and Advisory Committees of the Trust would adhere to the Host Community Development Plan, the Operating Manual, as well as the Code of Conduct guiding sustainable development in the host communities.
While speaking at the event, the Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, representated by Mr. Nsikak Iyanam, said NUPRC had earlier put together requirements which he said were handed over to the Effiat and Mbo Host Communities’ Development Trust as documents to peruse.
He explained that as an agency saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the provisions of the PIA were implemented, NUPRC would not relent in monitoring the implementation of the Host Community Development Plan as contained in the documents, to ensure that the host communities reap benefits.
“We are agency of government that ensures that the provisions of the PIA are implemented, in line with the intendment of the law. So, we had put together several requirements that we had communicated. Those requirements were handed to the Trust. The requirements and templates were developed by us.
” So, our role is to ensure that all the stakeholders are aware of what they have to do, and then, we just sit back, watch, collaborate and guide them”.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Uno Etim Uno, said with the inauguration of the Host Communities’ Development Trust, the people in the four villages should expect more robust developments geared towards transforming the communities.
The Commissioner, who was represented by Engr. Anietie Emah therefore, assured the Effiat and Mbo Host Communities’ Development Trust, of government’s support to the sectlors to ensure full implementation of the Host Community Development Plan for the people.
There were other goodwill messages from the representatives of the Paramount Ruler of Mbo, Ovong Ita Okon Otong, Transition Committee Chairman of Mbo, and Effiat Clan Council of Chiefs.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the event, the chairman of Effiat and Mbo Host Communities’ Development Trust, Barr. Inam Effiong Okon, said the inauguration was an answered prayer, especially for communities that had been neglected for so long.
He said although there were a lot of things to be put in place in the communities owing to the long neglect, his priority would be on education, healthcare and the provision of clean water for the people.
Highlight of the inauguration was the administration of oath to the members of the Trust and presentation of documentation packs.
The event was witnessed by traditional rulers from Mbo, stakeholders in the oil industry, as well as some key functionaries of Oriental Energy Resources Limited.
