The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has called on oil and gas operators to expand their impact in host communities through stronger partnerships, improved governance, and sustained collaboration.
The appeal was made at the second KEFFESO Host Community Development Trust stakeholders’ forum held at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where industry players reviewed how host community frameworks can deliver long-term social and economic benefits.
KEFFESO is a development trust serving 11 oil-producing communities in Bayelsa, set up under the Petroleum Industry Act. The initiative is funded through a three per cent operating expenditure contribution from the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company, with projects focused on education, health, and infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, represented by the Director of Corporate Services, Abdulmalik Halilu, praised the collaboration between industry operators and communities, describing it as a model for aligning institutional, corporate, and community interests.
He noted that the Petroleum Industry Act provides a structured and accountable framework for Host Community Development Trusts to function as vehicles for sustainable growth.
Discussions at the forum included technical sessions and panel conversations centred on leadership, transparency, and inclusive development. Participants highlighted the importance of clear governance structures to ensure that host communities see measurable benefits from oil and gas operations in their areas.
During one of the sessions, NCDMB’s General Manager of Zonal Coordination, Ifeanyi Ukoha, stressed the need for clearly defined roles between operators and communities, adding that trust-building remains essential for lasting outcomes.
In another panel, the board’s General Manager of Corporate Communications, Obinna Ezeobi, urged stakeholders to shift focus from mere compliance to delivering real impact, emphasising stronger monitoring, evaluation, and follow-through on agreed plans.
Stakeholders at the forum identified vision, accountability, and collaboration as key pillars for successful host community development and called for continued engagement among government, regulators, operators, and community representatives.
