CSO Demands Accountability For ₦60bn Oil Community Development Fund

The Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) committed to good governance, poverty alleviation and human rights protection has expressed concern over widespread allegations of fraud and misappropriation of the N60billion budget allocated to the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) for the development of oil and gas host communities in Akwa Ibom State since inception in 2024.

It regretted that so far, out of the five HCDTs saddled with the responsibility of managing the allocations for the seven core oil and gas host communities, only Eastern Obolo, has complied with the verification request under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI), in line with due diligence in management of the budget allocated to address the development challenges arising from from excavation activities of oil firms.

Therefore, for transparency and prudence in expending the budget allocations in compliance with the provision of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the rights group has commended the Board of Trustees (BoT) in – charge of the Eastern Obolo local government Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) fund, under the core seven LGAs -Eket, Mbo, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eket, Esit Eket and Eastern Obolo (EMOIMEE).

The leadership of the CSO led by the State Director, Otuekong Franklin Isong, and the Secretary (Research and Documentation), Comrade Etimbuk Ekpenyong, in a communque after budget verification, said the pass mark given to the Eastern Obolo HCDT Board, followed “the transparent and prompt response to our request in line with the Freedom of Information (FoI).”

The CSO, therefore, called on the other remaining local governments’ BoT members who are yet to disclose similar information to emulate Eastern Obolo.

“The CHRAN notes that EMOIMEE Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) is a statutory trust established under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, with Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited as Settlor and the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as regulator.

“The Trust is committed to enhancing the quality of life in its seven host communities of Eket, Mbo, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Esit Eket, and Eastern Obolo.

“The Center recalls that EMOIMEE was incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA 2020) on 5th July, 2023, and formally inaugurated on 18th July, 2024.

“Since inception, EMOIMEE has drawn public scrutiny over the management of the substantial funds remitted to it by the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture, with reports indicating that the Trust has received well over ₦60 billion since inception amid allegations of mismanagement, lack of transparency, accountability and poor project delivery in some host communities.

“It is against this backdrop of public concern that CHRAN has, over time, sought information from the Board of Trustees’ members across all seven EMOIMEE host communities under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

“By a letter dated 25th May, 2026, CHRAN formally requested information from the BOT members representing Eastern Obolo, Esit Eket, Ikot Abasi, Onna, and Mbo, seeking details of projects executed, their locations, scholarships awarded and their beneficiaries, names of contractors engaged, and any other community-targeted interventions carried out since inception.

“The CHRAN wishes to state with commendation that, so far, only the Eastern Obolo BoT members, Rt. Hon. Uduyork J. Aboh and Mrs. Lily Evans John, has responded satisfactorily, providing a comprehensive document detailing 29 projects executed in Eastern Obolo LGA since 2023, the contractors handling the projects, and scholarships awarded to a total of 2,000 beneficiaries.

“The CHRAN has independently fact-checked and thoroughly investigated the information provided and confirms that it is accurate. The CHRAN commends them for this demonstration of openness and responsiveness to public accountability demands, and we urge them to sustain this standard.

“We regret to note that the BOT members representing four other EMOIMEE host communities — Hon. E. Justus Ntuk (Ikot Abasi), Hon. Bassey Dan-Abia Jnr, (Esit Eket); Engr. Clinton Akpan (Onna), and Dr. Asuquo Edet Inuikim (Mbo) — are yet to respond to CHRAN’s letter of 25th May, 2026, despite the statutory obligation on public and quasi-public institutions to respond to FoI requests within the timelines prescribed by law.

“We recall that CHRAN had earlier written separately to the BOT members representing Mkpat Enin and Eket LGAs. While the Mkpat Enin representative responded, the Eket BOT member failed to do so, compelling CHRAN to institute legal action in Suit No: FHC/CS/10/2026, which is presently pending before the Federal High Court.

“CHRAN’s engagement with EMOIMEE is informed by persistent complaints received from residents of these local government areas, who allege that the Trust is not doing enough to develop their communities despite the substantial funds accruing to it. We note that public accountability is not optional for a statutory trust managing funds meant for the collective benefit of host communities; it is a legal and moral obligation.

“We therefore reiterate our demand that the BoT members representing Ikot Abasi, Esit Eket, Onna, and Mbo respond to our request without further delay. Should they continue to withhold this information, CHRAN will explore all lawful measures available to it to compel disclosure and ensure that the affected communities are not kept in the dark about how funds meant for their development are being utilised by EMOIMEE,” the communque stressed.