Stakeholders drawn from the Oil Mining License (OML) 13 Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) catchment areas have unveiled a comprehensive Needs Assessment Report (NAR) designed to serve as a blueprint for sustainable development across the eleven oil-producing local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
The report, LEADERSHIP learnt, was was formally presented during a meeting involving the community stakeholders and officials of the firms – NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) and Sumedha Energy Limited (SEL) joint venture at Merzino Palace Hotel, Uyo, the State capital, which was also witnessed by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Commission (NUPRC);,the HCDT Board of Trustees (BoT) and other oil and gas operators.
Addressing the forum, the chairman of the BoT of OML 13 HCDT, Barr. Ekpris Urujzian, described the report as “a strategic development roadmap that captures the aspirations, challenges and priority needs of host communities within the OML 13 operational areas.”
He noted that “the document will guide the planning and execution of impactful projects capable of improving living standards and promoting sustainable development in the affected communities.”
Providing a technical overview of the report, a member of the Trust, Engr. Festus Sunday, disclosed that the 624-page document was commissioned by NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) and Sumedha Energy Limited (SEL), to identify critical development gaps and opportunities across the Trust’s eleven host local government areas.
He explained that the assessment captures key intervention areas including healthcare, education, water and sanitation, infrastructure development, human capital development, youth empowerments, livelihood enhancement and environmental sustainability.
Sunday recalled that the report was developed through extensive consultations with community members and other stakeholders, pointing out that “its recommendations reflect the realities, expectations and developmental aspirations of the people.”
Responding, the representative of the NUPRC, Adeniji Titilayo, commended the OML 13 HCDT, NEPL, SEL and other stakeholders for successfully completing the exercise.
She described the report as a major milestone in the implementation of the host community provisions as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), noting that “it provides a credible, evidence-based framework for identifying and prioritising development projects in host communities.”
Titilayo stated that the objectives of the PIA extend beyond compliance to fostering sustainable prosperity, social inclusion and peaceful coexistence between petroleum operators and host communities.
“The comprehensive needs assessment demonstrates a deliberate commitment to ensuring that development projects are community-driven, responsive to local realities and aligned with the aspirations of the people,” Titilayo stressed.
She, therefore, urged the Board of Trustees and management of the Trust to translate the report’s recommendations into measurable projects capable of delivering tangible socio-economic benefits to residents of the host communities.
The NUPRC official further stressed the need for transparency, accountability, stakeholder engagement and effective monitoring mechanisms in project implementation, while reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to providing regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with the PIA, and expressed confidence that “the report will accelerate development, strengthen community relations and promote sustainable growth across the OML 13 host communities.”
Also speaking, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of NEPL for OML 13, Auwal Ya’u, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the objectives of the Host Communities Development Trust and assured stakeholders that the company would adhere to timelines required for the release of funds to support project implementation.
Similarly, Manager, Community Security, Susan Bassey, described the successful completion and presentation of the report as the outcome of collective dedication and collaboration among stakeholders.
She noted that the process reflected a shared commitment to ensuring that host communities derive meaningful benefits from petroleum operations within their areas.
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 key recommendations are the prioritisation of high-impact infrastructure projects, improvement of healthcare and educational services, expansion of access to clean water and sanitation, investment in youth development and entrepreneurship, promotion of environmentally sustainable initiatives, and establishment of robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that successful implementation of the report would require sustained collaboration among government agencies, regulatory authorities, NEPL, Sumedha Energy Limited, development partners, non-governmental organisations and host communities.
