The people of Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, one of the major oil-producing communities in the state, have raised the alarm over claims that the State House of Assembly unduly meddled in the Host Community Development Trust Funds, HCDTFs.
This was sequel to 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.
Udo had, during a recent sitting of the House, noted that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act in August 2021, and the subsequent incorporation of several HCDTs in Akwa Ibom from 2023 for the development of oil-bearing communities, has created displeasure and dissatisfaction among community stakeholders over the approach to project execution and funds management by the HCDTs in the State.
But the people, under the aegis of Ulok Ulok Progressives Assembly (UUPA), in a statement issued by the President, Chief Ekaluo Asuakasi, in Uyo on Monday, countered the House of Assembly resolution, arguing that such a move was antithetical to the development plans for oil community change as enshrined in the PIA.
He 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.
“By the Act of Parliament establishing the PIA, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly does not have the right to interfere, oversee, or cause disruptions in the activities of the community development trust in Ibeno. The entire Act establishing the PIA is regulated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
“By the contemplation of the PIA, I do not think the 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. Up until now, about 140 HCDTs have been incorporated.
“For instance, the Ibeno Host Community Development Trust, under the leadership of Hon. Samuel E. Thomas, as the Board of Trustee Chairman, has been doing excellently well; and there are no complaints from the people or stakeholders from the area against the activities or operations of our Trust Fund.”
He explained that the Trust Fund has so far intervened to address various challenges in the Ibeno host community, especially in the areas of health, physical infrastructure, education, and human capital development.
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.
He wondered, “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?”