Follow Us on Google
The Otakikpo Joint Venture (JV) involving Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) and Lekoil Oil and Gas Investment Limited have inaugurated the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), for four communities in response to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The nine man HCDT was inaugurated last weekend for Ugama Ekede, Ayama Ekede, Asukama and Asukoyet communities, all in Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers state, the day after the JV had inaugurated the HCDT for Ikuru Community from same locality.
A Director in GEIL, HRH David Serena Dokubo Spiff, noted on the occasion that since inception, the GEIL and LekOil JV has consistently recognised its responsibility to create prosperity to build trust, confidence and boost social development in the host communities.
“Over the years, we have ensured that our core thematic areas are geared towards providing direct social investment programmes to address development deficits through empowerment of women and youths, capacity building and skill acquisition, health outreaches, scholarships, direct community contracts, infrastructures and poverty alleviation and other sustainable development initiatives, even before the PIA was signed into law.
“The Otakikpo JV moved into action as soon as the PIA was signed into Law to document key legal provisions required for the establishment of HCDT. This was followed through with grassroot mobilization and sensitization to advance understanding of the legal provisions towards the establishment of the HCDT.”
He added that GEIL has engaged the aforementioned foursome communities to galvanize support and to conduct needs assessment that metamorphosed into a community Development Plan (CDP), carefully validated by members of the communities.
Acknowledging the roles played by the industry’s regulator, Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for approvals granted and the Corporate Affairs Commission “CAC” for incorporating the foursome Trust, the GEIL Director said; “With the support our host communities, GEIL has clearly set the pace for other E&P companies as being one of the first to fulfill all requirements for the establishment of the HCDT”
Chief Gad Harry Ekprikpo, a community opinion leader said with inauguration of the HCDT for the communities, meaningful projects designed to resolve the immediate socio-economic challenges confronting the host communities will be implemented without delay.
Asuk Nathan Sampson, Chairman of the foursome HCDT, expressed the commitment of the Board of Trustees to live up to expectations of all stakeholders for the confidence reposed in them to deliver.
