A’Ibom oil host communities roll out development roadmap

Stakeholders in the OML 13 Host Communities Development Trust have unveiled a comprehensive needs assessment report aimed at guiding development interventions across 11 oil-producing host local government areas in Akwa Ibom State.

A statement issued by the Media Manager of Sumedha Energy Limited, Mr Aniekeme Finbarr, in Uyo, on Wednesday said the report was presented on Monday in Uyo during a stakeholders’ meeting attended by representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Exploration and Production Limited, Sumedha Energy Limited, community leaders and members of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of OML 13 HCDT, Ekpris Urujzian, in his remarks, described the report as a roadmap for sustainable development, saying it reflected the needs and aspirations of host communities and would guide future projects within the Trust.

“This report is a roadmap for sustainable development as it reflects the needs and aspirations of host communities and will guide future projects within the Trust,” Urujzia said

A member of the Trust, Festus Sunday, who presented the technical report, said the 624-page document was commissioned by NNPC Exploration and Production Limited and Sumedha Energy Limited, adding that the assessment identified critical areas requiring intervention, including healthcare, education, water and sanitation, infrastructure, human capital development, youth empowerment, livelihood support and environmental sustainability.

He said the report was developed through extensive consultations with community members and other stakeholders to ensure that development priorities were driven by local needs.

The statement added, “The assessment identified critical areas requiring intervention, including healthcare, education, water and sanitation, infrastructure, human capital development, youth empowerment, livelihood support and environmental sustainability.

“This report was developed through extensive consultations with community members and other stakeholders to ensure that development priorities were driven by local needs.”

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The representative of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Titilayo Adeniji, described the report as a major milestone in the implementation of the host community provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.

She said the assessment provides an evidence-based framework for “identifying and prioritising development projects and aligns with the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act to promote sustainable prosperity and peaceful coexistence between operators and host communities.”

Adeniji urged the Trust to ensure that the report’s recommendations were translated into projects that would improve the living conditions of residents, stressing the importance of transparency, accountability and stakeholder engagement in implementation.

She also reaffirmed the commitment of the commission to providing regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with the provisions of the PIA.

Also speaking, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of NEPL for OML 13, Auwal Ya’u, assured stakeholders of the company’s commitment to supporting the objectives of the Trust, including the timely release of funds for approved projects.

The needs assessment covers Eastern Obolo, Onna, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi, Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno, Etinan, Oruk Anam, Nsit Ubium and Urue-Offong/Oruko local government areas.

Among its recommendations are investments in critical infrastructure, improved healthcare and education services, expanded access to potable water and sanitation, youth development and entrepreneurship programmes, environmental sustainability initiatives and stronger monitoring and evaluation systems.

Stakeholders expressed optimism that the report would accelerate development and improve socio-economic outcomes across the host communities.