By Adewale Sanyaolu
Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) operated Joint Venture has disbursed a total of N3.72 billion in addition to another $12.32 million for community development projects in compliance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
This was as it progressed implementation of the legislation with the unveiling of two Trusts in Imo State at the weekend. As stipulated in the PIA, the funds are from the three percent operating expenditure of the joint venture from the previous year and enables trusts to plan and execute development projects in their communities.
SPDC, in collaboration with its joint venture partners — NNPC Limited, TotalEnergies and ENI has, so far, unveiled 27 trusts out of the 33 proposed in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Imo states, with more to be funded as the set-up processes mature.
The large number of fully established Trusts since the signing of the PIA into law in August 2021 has been acknowledged as an industry record. Officials of the Imo State government and community leaders cheered as Assa North and Egbema/Oguta Trusts were formally presented as development vehicles to the public in Owerri.
“The Imo State government is happy at the progress in the setting up of Trusts and will continue to support them to achieve set objectives,” said the Commissioner of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Eugene Opara.
SPDC Managing Director and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, in an address read by Community Relations Manager, Central Hub, Evans Krukrubo, advised Trusts to see themselves as partners with industry operators.
“With funding of Trusts derived from operations, community disruptions and vandalism will inevitably lead to fewer cash, resulting to less projects and programmes. We expect communities to help ensure hitch-free operations and fully benefit from the new dispensation,” Okunbor said.
In their addresses, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, (NUPRC) Gbenga Komolafe and Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS,) Mr. Bala Wunti, noted that the idea of Trusts would boost community development in oil producing areas if all parties collaborate well and decide to resolve grievances through dialogue.
The chairman of Assa North Trust Mrs. Eugene Onyiriuka and her counterpart for Egbema/Oguta pledged to work for the development of their communities. The two Trusts comprise 11 communities which were among the more than 300 that SPDC JV engaged in respect of the PIA implementation. Most of the Trusts are now ready to function fully, having set up the PIA mandated three levels of governance.
— Board of Trustees, management committees and community advisory committees.