The NNPC/SEPNU EMOIMEE Host Communities Development Trust will inspect and commission community development projects across seven oil-producing local government areas of Akwa Ibom State on October 27 and 28, ahead of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 29.
The exercise is expected to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to assess completed projects and evaluate the Trust’s interventions in communities hosting petroleum operations.
The affected local government areas are Eket, Esit Eket, Mbo, Onna, Ibeno, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Hon. E. Justus Ntuk, said the exercise reflects the Trust’s determination to ensure that development reaches communities in the interior, rather than being concentrated in easily accessible locations.
“We are taking development to the interiors of our oil-producing communities. No one will be left behind in our development drive. Our impact will not only be felt but will also be seen through transparency and accountability,” Ntuk said.
The projects cover critical areas, including healthcare, education, business development, infrastructure and transportation services, among other interventions intended to improve living conditions in the host communities.
The project inspections and commissioning will precede the AGM, where the Trust is expected to review its activities and achievements, engage stakeholders and discuss priorities for future development.
The programme is also expected to bring together traditional rulers, political leaders, community elders, women, youths, persons with disabilities and other representatives whose participation is considered important to inclusive development planning.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which regulates the upstream petroleum industry, and the relevant settlor are expected to feature in the proceedings.
The Trust operates within the framework of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which provides for Host Communities Development Trusts to support sustainable development in petroleum-producing areas and strengthen relationships between host communities and petroleum operators.
The forthcoming engagements will offer EMOIMEE an opportunity to demonstrate the outcomes of its development initiatives, obtain stakeholder feedback and account for its activities since inception.
With the AGM scheduled for October 29, attention will be on the projects delivered across the seven local government areas and the Trust’s plans for addressing the continuing development needs of its host communities.
