By Solomon OKPO | The Evangelist News Desk
The NNPC/SEPNU EMOIMEE Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) has announced plans to inspect and commission community development projects across seven host Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State ahead of its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The two-day exercise, scheduled for October 27 and 28, will cover Eket, Esit Eket, Mbo, Onna, Ibeno, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo Local Government Areas. It will precede the Trust’s AGM scheduled for October 29 in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Speaking ahead of the project tour, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Hon. E. Justus Ntuk, said the exercise was aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and inclusive development in oil-producing communities.
Ntuk emphasised that the Trust was committed to extending development interventions beyond urban centres to remote communities affected by oil exploration, assuring that no host community would be excluded from its development agenda.
“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,” he said.
The projects scheduled for inspection span critical sectors, including healthcare, education, entrepreneurship and business development, road infrastructure and transportation, alongside other interventions designed to improve living conditions across the benefiting communities.
Beyond commissioning completed projects, the tour is expected to provide an opportunity for community members to assess the interventions and offer feedback on the Trust’s performance since its inception.
The exercise will culminate in the October 29 AGM, where the Trust is expected to present its performance report, engage stakeholders and outline development priorities for the coming year.
Expected participants include traditional rulers, political leaders, community elders, women and youth groups, persons with disabilities, representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and officials of the settlor companies, NNPC and SEPNU.
Established within the framework of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, EMOIMEE HCDT is mandated to facilitate sustainable development in host communities and strengthen relations between oil-producing communities and petroleum operators.
As the Trust prepares for its AGM, attention will focus on the projects delivered across the seven local government areas, their impact on beneficiaries and the extent to which the interventions address the development needs of communities hosting oil and gas operations.
