The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) has pledged its commitment to ensuring that funds allocated under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) are effectively utilised to drive meaningful development in oil-producing communities, especially in Bayelsa state.
This assurance was made by the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Seyi Omotowa, during a stakeholders’ engagement session with the KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
The trust represents several oil-producing communities, including Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, Sangana, Opu Okumbiri, Okumbiribeleu, and Oginibiri in Bayelsa.
Speaking through the Deputy Manager, External Relations at NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Mrs. Edith Lawson, Omotowa emphasized that the company remains dedicated to ensuring that PIA funds are directed toward critical projects in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
He also highlighted the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in achieving lasting socio-economic development in oil-producing regions.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, commended the NNPC Ltd./FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P) Joint Venture for maintaining a strategic partnership with the host communities.
He noted that it introduced much-needed governance, transparency, and accountability in host community development efforts.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the KEFFESO HCDT, His Royal Highness, Moses Theophilus, expressed gratitude to NNPC Ltd. and FIRST E&P for ensuring that host communities benefit significantly from the PIA framework.
The forum concluded with a collective call for sustained collaboration among all stakeholders, emphasizing that the success of the PIA hinges on strong partnerships, peace, and a shared commitment to community development.