A delegation of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on Wednesday, inspected projects in Host Community Development Trusts (HCDT), executed by Renaissance Africa Energy Africa Company Limited, in Bayelsa.
The inspection was carried out by a team of the NUPRC and officials of Renaissance Africa.
The HCDT completed projects visited are: One Block of Twin Bedsitter Women project at Gbarantoru Community, construction of concrete road along Gbarantoru women project site 240m x 5m with dual drainage, and construction of 150m x 6m concrete road 1 with dual drainage at Nedugo community.
Others are Electricity upgrade of Ogboloma community-ITN, TDN and LVD Sub-station construction, installation of 100nos solar powered streetlights at Okotiama, amongst others.
The Chief Executive of NUPRC, Engr Gbenga Komolafe was represented by Engr. Stella Nwabueze, Senior Manager with the Management of Host Community Branch and Health Safety Environment and Community Department, NUPRC.
Komolafe, said that the Commission aspires to promote sustainable value creation of Nigerian Petroleum Resources for shared prosperity.
According to him: “What we are doing today is to conduct oversight function as handed down to us by the PIA 2021.
“As you can see all the HCDT projects we have inspected today from Gbarantoru to Okolobiri and now here in Ogboloma community all align with the objectives of the chapter three of the PIA, which completely aligns with the mission of the NUPRC, promoting sustainable development of petroleum resources for shared prosperity.
“As we can see, we have seen over five new road networks completed, we are here at this transformer station that feeds the Ogboloma community people and we are going to visit two more transformers along the road just in clusters like this.
“You can agree with me that these projects impact directly on the social and economic life of the people, especially the one that I like is the women development project, which is self sustaining and helps to improve the lives of women.
“The HCDT are doing so much and we are happy with what we are seeing today. This is just the first phase. The HCDT project is just three years since 2021,” she said.
She said Renaissance Africa Energy Company is actually leading in the desired angle. “As NUPRC, we work with them hand in hand to see the fulfillment of HCDT implementation in all the host communities.
On his part, the Board Chairman of the HCDT, Mr. Ebikese Okoko, said they are not ready to cut corners but to ensure that the projects are carried out according to specification.
He said they will improve with what they have done with the resources available to them, as about 64 to 65 projects given have been completed.
In his remarks, Mr. Innocent Nwala, Head, Host Communities Development Trust for Renaissance Africa, said with the projects executed in the area, Communities will be at peace without litigations.
He said that they are excited when values are added in their host communities, that they are happy when the PIA is being implemented in the host communities, and excited at seeing what is on ground, noting that most of their projects have been completed in Bayelsa.
The PIA mandates oil firms to set aside three per cent of their operating expenses for development of host communities under the governance of the HCDT.
