The workshop served to foster collaboration with the Agbonu Ogulagha-Ibe HCDT towards achieving sustainable development for the host communities and to discuss the roles and functions of the BOT, AC and MC.

CNL also thanked the community stakeholders for the existing cordial relationship with the company over the years, a situation that facilitated the success of the erstwhile community engagement model, the Offshore Memorandum of Understanding (“OMoU”), and its onshore equivalent, the Global Memorandum of Understanding (“GMoU”).

Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs, emphasized that CNL is committed to the operationalization of the Host Communities Development Trusts in compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 (“PIA”).

According to him, “CNL is a law-abiding corporate citizen that respects the rule of law and carries out its operations in compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing the Nigerian oil and gas industry including the PIA”.

While extending CNL management’s goodwill and congratulations to the members of the BOT, and the MC and AC of the Agbonu Ogulagha-Ibe HCDT, Esimaje, who was represented at the event by Joseph Adeyemi, Senior Social Performance Advisor, expressed the hope that the body would sustain the partnership and mutual relationship between CNL and the Agbonu Ogulagha-Ibe HCDT’s constituent communities. 

The Chairman of Agbonu Ogulagha-Ibe HCDT, Peter Satu, commended the NNPCL/CNL JV for its commitment to sustainable development in communities neighboring its areas of operations and for coordinating the transition from the OMoU/GMoU to the HCDT in line with the PIA.

He assured that the Agbonu Ogulagha-Ibe HCDT will work towards enhancing the socio-economic development of the communities. The Nigerian Upstream Investment Management Services (“NUIMS”) of NNPCL was represented at the event by Mrs. Joy Eguahon.