PIA: A’Ibom oil community opposes assembly’s meddlesomeness in HCDTF

 Iniobong Ekponta, Uyo

Ibeno Local Government Area, one the major oil producing areas in Akwa Ibom State, has opposed the State House of Assembly’s alleged meddlesomeness in the Host Community Development Trust Funds (HCDTFs).

Under the aegis of their socio-cultural group – Ulok Ulok Progressives Assembly (UUPA), leaders, elders and stakeholders of the oil community expressed disagreement over the lawmakers ploy to dabble into the HCDTFs, cashing in on the purported crisis around the host communities.

They noted that such intervention only tantamount to slowing down the excellent performances and work already going on in several communities within the HCDT operations.”

It was gathered that the disagreement by Ibeno stakeholders followed a motion brought under Order 3, Rule 1 of the Standing Orders of the State House of Assembly sponsored by the Member Representing Ibeno/Esit Eket State Constituency, Hon. Friday Udobia Udo.

Recall that Hon. Udobia Udo, during a recent sitting of the House had explained that, “the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in August 2021, and subsequent incorporation of several HCDTs, in Akwa Ibom from around the year 2023 for the development of oil bearing communities, has created displeasure and dissatisfaction by community stakeholders over approach to projects execution and funds management by the HCDTs in the State.”

But speaking on behalf of the Ibeno people, the President of UUPA, Chief Ekaluo Asuakasi countered the House of Assembly resolution, arguing that, such move was antithetical to the development plans for oil change as enshrined in the PIA.

Addressing Journalists in Uyo, Chief Asuakasi, described the motion by the lawmaker as a brazen attempt to truncate the excellent performances of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund in the State, particularly in Ibeno LGA.

He noted that “by the Act of Parliament establishing PIA, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly does not have the right to interfere, oversight or cause disruptions in the activities of the communities development trust in Ibeno, adding that, “the entire Act establishing PIA is regulated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

“By the contemplation of the PIA, I do not think Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has the right to interfere in the activities of the host community funds.

“The Act establishing the PIA is regulated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which is the supervisory body over the activities of the Trusts across the entire country, and up till now, about 140 HCDTs have been incorporated.

“For instance, the Ibeno Host Community Development Trust, under the sterling leadership of Hon. Samuel E. Thomas, as the Board of Trusting (BoT) Chairman, has been doing excellently well; and there are no complaints by the people or stakeholders from the area against the activities or operations of the IHCDT.”

He explained that the IHCDT has so far intervened to address various challenges in Ibeno host community especially in the areas of health, physical infrastructure, education and human capital development.

 Chief Asuakasi however advised that, if there are complaints from the people of Eket and Esit Eket, such complaints should be treated in isolation by their stakeholders in Eket and Esit Eket, wondering “where was Hon. Friday Udobia Udo, who represents Ibeno/Esit Eket State Constituency in the House of Assembly, several months ago, when his people from Eket/Esit Eket violently killed innocent people and destroyed properties in Ibeno communities?