NEPL inaugurates BoT for OML-13 host communities

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Exploration & Production Limited (NEPL), in collaboration with Sumedha Energy Limited (SEL), has inaugurated the Board of Trustees (BoT) for the OML-13 Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), marking a significant milestone in community engagement and sustainable development.

The event, held at Joodag Hotel, Eket, Akwa Ibom State, drew dignitaries from the oil and gas industry, government officials, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders.

The inauguration activates a key provision of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which mandates the establishment of HCDTs to channel 3% of oil companies’ annual operational expenditure into grassroots development initiatives.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Auwal Ya’u, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of NEPL, described the occasion as more than statutory compliance, but a commitment to inclusive growth, transparency, and peacebuilding.

“We are not just managing oil and gas operations, we are co-writing a new story of impact and unity with our communities,” Ya’u stated.

He assured that the NEPL-SEL joint venture remains committed to the full implementation of the PIA and its provisions.

Representing the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Etim Etukudo, State Coordinator in Eket, read a message on behalf of the Commission’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe. He lauded NEPL and SEL for adhering to regulatory guidelines and emphasised the Commission’s role in monitoring implementation, fund accountability, and active community participation.

According to Etukudo, over 146 HCDTs have been registered nationwide, many of which have commenced impactful projects. He urged the new board to focus on sustainable investments in education, healthcare, renewable energy, and skill acquisition, stressing that “their legacy should outlast the oil itself.”

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mrs. Ikwobia Esq., who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources (Petroleum), Rt. Hon. Nsikak Ekong commended the initiative, describing it as a testament to the joint venture’s sincerity and commitment to inclusive growth.

She reaffirmed the state government’s support under the leadership of Governor Umo Eno, stating that the administration would continue to provide an enabling environment for investors and ensure alignment with the “Arise Agenda” for economic growth and infrastructural development.

In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated BoT Chairman described the moment as one of “long-awaited hope and responsibility.” He pledged that the board would uphold fairness, transparency, and integrity in managing the trust, with a focus on education, healthcare, job creation, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability.

“We are not here to serve ourselves. We are here to serve the people with honesty and accountability. This trust belongs to the community, and we are only its caretakers,” he declared.

A vote of thanks was delivered by the Lead, Base Management of Sumedha Energy Limited, formerly known as Natural Oilfield Services Ltd (NOSL). He appreciated the host communities, traditional institutions, regulatory agencies, and the NEPL-SEL team for their support and collaboration.

He emphasised that the establishment of the HCDT represents more than regulatory compliance it is a moral and developmental pact. “This trust is not just paperwork,” he concluded. “It is our promise to the people that we are here to grow together and we are here to stay.”

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