NEWS
PIA: FG Tasks Host Community Trusts on Utilisation of 3% Funds
The Federal Government has urged Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) in the Niger Delta to maximize the three per cent funds to ensure that communities reap the benefits of such funds.
The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 mandates oil firms to set aside three per cent of its operational expenses for development of its host communities.
The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen.
Heineken Lokpobiri, gave the charge during the KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.NAN reports that the theme for the event is “Envisioning Sustainable Community Development in Niger Delta Host Communities: Identifying Challenges and Actualizing The PIA Paradigm Shift.
According to Lokpobiri, in a bid to bring stability to the oil sector and to address the agitations occasioned by lack of development in host communities, the federal government enacted the PIA and set aside three per cent operational expenses by oil and gas firms for host communities development.
The Minister pointed out that infighting amongst stakeholders in host communities has made it difficult for oil bearing communities to access the funds accruing to the HCDTs.
He called on host communities to collaborate with the federal government and operating companies to ensure that oil production services are not disrupted, stating that host communities will be the eventual losers if oil production are disrupted.
“This KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum is to see how host communities can maximize the benefits from the Host Communities Trust Funds as prescribed by the PIA.
“I came to speak to them about taking ownership of oil and gas facilities that are located in different parts of the country.
“Any time there is disruption in oil production everybody loses, the federal government, oil production companies and the host communities.
“That is why I said it is important they take this message home, let them work with all stakeholders, the federal government, oil companies and host communities should work together.
“As stakeholders who have their respective stakes in oil and gas operations in the country, we should work together to ensure that we maximize the benefits of oil and gas.
“Don’t forget there is a global campaign against the continuation of production of fossil fuel.
“Fossils fuel will never go away. Fossil fuel will not have any value unless you bring it out of the ground or from the sea to the market that is why we need this collaboration,” he said.
According to him: “I want to recommend this KEFFESO model to all parts of the country that are into oil and gas that when you have sustained peace you will benefit.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Engr. Omotsola Ogbe reiterated the commitment of the Board to leverage on the provision of the NOCGIiC Act.
He equally said that the NCDMB’s Community Content Guidelines aim to ensure sustained community engagement and play the part vested on the Board and ensure that the community content is respected and recognized in the entire oil and gas value chain.
Represented by the Director Legal Services of the Board, Mr Naboth Onyesoh, commended the KEFFESO Host Community Development Trust.
First E & P and the Minister of State Petroleum Resources Oil towards the support government to the KEFFESO trust fund.
On his part, the MD/CEO of First E & P, Mr Ademola Adeyemi-Bero said the KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum is a veritable platform to discuss and strategize for a meaningful and sustainable future for host communities.
He noted that the forum marks a pivotal commitment of the company’s journey towards tackling the present challenges faced by the marginalized communities in the Niger Delta. (NAN)
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has called for a lasting solution to eradicate environmental pollution caused by plastic wastes.
In her message to mark the year 2025 World Environment Day, with the theme ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, in Abuja on Thursday, the first lady also advised people to curtail the way they consume food and drinks packaged in plastics.
“I join millions of Nigerians and the world in calling for urgent and united action to safeguard our environment.
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, affecting our health, our environment, and our future.“In Nigeria, we must rise to this challenge by changing how we consume packaged food items and how we dispose of plastic containers and bags.
“I particularly want to speak to our youths, the leaders of tomorrow, be it in schools or within our neighborhoods, each of you has a role to play in creating a cleaner, healthier and greener Nigeria,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu had recently promised to introduce environmental solutions clubs to schools through her NGO, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
“I want to use this opportunity to introduce our students to two programmes that the RHI will be launching soon.
“First is the Environment Club for Secondary School Students and the Environment Society for Students in Tertiary institutions nationwide to help us clean up our environment and grow more trees.
“Second is the “Flow with Confidence” for our girls in rural communities.
“This programme is to provide one year’s supply of disposable sanitary pads to our adolescent girls to support them to remain in school during their menstrual cycle,” She said.
NAN further reports that some of the functions of RHI environmental clubs in schools would include raising environmental awareness; fostering social and life skills; empowering students to take action and promoting sustainable behaviours.
The clubs can also enhance critical thinking and creativity, encourage healthy lifestyles, and strengthen communities.
The club would encourage students to participate in various environmental projects, like tree planting, recycling, and garden projects, gaining practical experience and deeper understanding.(NAN))
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation on Wednesday evening banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States.The countries affected are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Nationals from these countries will be “fully” restricted from entering the U. S., according to the proclamation. Similarly, the entry of nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted.The proclamation is effective on June 9, 2025 at 12:01 am EDT (5:01am Nigerian time).Trump said the move was needed to protect the U.S. against “foreign terrorists” and other security threats.“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” Trump said in a video posted on X.The U.S. President said the list could be revised and new countries could be added.He said the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbour a “large-scale presence of terrorists”.He alleged others failed to cooperate on visa security and had an inability to verify travellers’ identities, inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the U.S..“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” Trump said.Trump’s directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and “anywhere else that threatens our security”.Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.That order directed several cabinet members to submit a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their “vetting and screening information is so deficient.”During his first term in office, Trump had announced a ban on travellers from seven countries, a policy that generated so much controversies before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.However, former President Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump, repealed the ban in 2021, calling it “a stain on our national conscience.” (NAN)From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro has congratulated the traditional ruler of the Okochiri Kingdom in Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom on the occasion of his 61st birthday.Otuaro was among prominent guests that graced the colourful birthday celebration of King Ateke at his palace in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area, on Monday.
He described the Rivers monarch as “a respectable leader whose reign has brought about unity, peace, progress and development around his community. ”He stressed that King Ateke, who is also the ‘Sekuro of the Niger Delta’, was a great asset who had contributed immensely to the peace, stability, security and development of the region.Otuaro expressed his utmost regard for the traditional institution and the vital role of traditional rulers in the peace and development of communities in the Niger Delta.He noted that traditional rulers were among the critical stakeholders that the PAP was collaborating with to strengthen the programme’s peace-building process in the region.He reiterated that the programme was in safe hands, and strongly motivated by President Bola Tinubu to bridge the region’s human capital development gap through formal education scholarships and vocational training in aviation, maritime, agriculture, and other relevant trade areas.Otuaro said his policy of inclusivity had ensured the involvement of Niger Delta women in the programme’s initiatives, stressing that there were plans designed for their empowerment and contribution to the region’s socio-economic growth.He emphasized that he was focused on rendering quality service to the people of the region, and not distracted by the shenanigans of his detractors.Otuaro called on all stakeholders of the region to remain steadfast in the effort to sustain the prevailing peace in the region so that socio-economic and developmental activities could thrive around the communities.While expressing appreciation to King Ateke for his unwavering support to the programme, the PAP boss prayed to God to grant him long reign, longevity and good health.
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