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Accugas Limited, the Nigerian midstream subsidiary of Savannah Energy PLC, has inaugurated the Board of Trustees of its Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), the first such trust to be inaugurated by a midstream company in Nigeria.
The inauguration marks a new phase in the company’s relationship with its host communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, providing a structured platform for communities to identify, prioritise and implement development projects.
The trust was established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to promote sustainable development in host communities and give them greater participation in decisions affecting projects in their areas.
Head of Stakeholder Relations and Regional Manager, Nigeria, Savannah, Nkoyo Etuk, said the inauguration reinforced Accugas’ commitment to the communities where it operates.
“For Accugas, this inauguration builds on a longstanding commitment to the communities in which we operate,” Etuk said.
She said the company had over the years supported initiatives in education, healthcare, economic empowerment, infrastructure and other areas of community development.
According to her, the new trust would build on those efforts by giving host communities greater responsibility, ownership and participation in their development.
Senior Manager, Host Community Development Trust, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Cynthia Nzeh, described the inauguration as an important milestone.
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“The Accugas Host Communities Development Trust is the first midstream Host Communities Development Trust in Nigeria to be inaugurated,” she said.
Nzeh commended Accugas and the trustees, urging them to operate with integrity, transparency and accountability.
She also charged the board to ensure that projects and initiatives undertaken by the trust reflect the actual needs and priorities of the host communities.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Rt. Hon. Nsikak Ekong, also commended Accugas for including communities across Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in its development plans.
He urged the trustees to remain accountable to the communities and ensure that residents were carried along in the implementation of development projects.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Accugas Host Communities Development Trust, Chief Bassey Itama Abang, said the board would focus on delivering sustainable development rather than awarding contracts.
“The Board of Trustees is not a contract-awarding institution. Our role is to ensure that the Trust delivers meaningful and sustainable development outcomes for our communities,” Abang said.
He pledged to work with Accugas, community leaders and other stakeholders to implement projects that reflect the priorities of the communities and deliver lasting value.
