Elizabeth Vincent, Yenagoa
The KEFFESO host communities development trust recorded significant progress in governance, financial management, infrastructure delivery and community development in 2025, achieving 78 per cent overall execution of its project portfolio.
KEFFESO comprises Koluama, Ezetu, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, Sangana and Opu-Okumbiri/Okumbiribeleu/Oginibiri communities. It is the host community development trust of the NNPC limited/fIRST exploration & petroleum development. company joint venture, operator of PML 53 and OML 54.
The disclosure was made at the Trust’s 2025 annual general meeting held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, where the board of trustees presented its annual report on the organisation’s activities and performance during the year.
Presenting the report, the board secretary, Dr Matthew Sele-Epri, said the board strengthened its oversight responsibilities through regular meetings, committee reviews and close monitoring of the approved work plan and budget.
According to him, the board provided strategic direction and exercised oversight through its meetings, committees and engagements with the trust’s statutory and operational structures.
Sele-Epri said the trust also enhanced the functions of its programmes oversight, monitoring and evaluation committee; advocacy, communications, partnership and stakeholder management committee,and finance, accounts, audit and risk management committee.
He said notable progress was recorded in procurement, recruitment, grievance management stakeholder engagement, project implementation, health, safety and environment (HSE) standards, ethics, budgeting and financial management.
He disclosed that Forvis Mazars was appointed as the Trust’s external auditor, while the organisation completed its registration with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, adding that Vetiva capital and FBNQuest were appointed to manage approved naira and dollar reserve investments.
The board secretary said the board was satisfied that management operated substantially within its approved mandate, work plan and budget, he identified improved information flow performance appraisal, early risk escalation, reporting, timely project delivery, prudent resource utilisation, community participation and sustainability as areas requiring further attention.
The board subsequently endorsed the management implementation report and audited financial statements for presentation at the AGM.
The chairman of the board of trustees, HRH Moses Theophilus, said 2025 represented a year of institutional consolidation and measurable development across the 11 KEFFESO host communities.
Theophilus disclosed that the trust supported 258 education, health and water-service personnel, profiled 229 persons living with disabilities and enabled 40 young people to access opportunities under the federal government’s technical and vocational education initiative.
He said the trust also facilitated scholarship, employment and contractor-registration opportunities through its relationships with industry stakeholders. “Stewardship requires us to manage the trust’s resources prudently, make decisions transparently and remain answerable to the communities whose aspirations we represent.”
On infrastructure, the chairman said all four legacy concrete-road projects inherited from the former global memorandum of understanding framework had been completed.
He added that five solar-powered industrial boreholes were delivered, while water facilities in four communities were maintained.
Theophilus said projects under the 2025 development programme were ongoing across the 11 host communities and at the permanent site of the KEFFESO host community development trust, with overall project execution standing at 78 per cent.
He also highlighted the 2025 medical outreach organised by FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited, which he said reached 3,871 beneficiaries and distributed 916 pairs of eyeglasses.
The chairman further cited the K-Yan digital education initiative implemented in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board as one of the trust’s notable interventions during the year,despite the progress recorded.
Theophilus acknowledged challenges relating to procurement delays, contractor performance and compliance with HSE requirements.
“Transparency demands that we speak honestly about the gaps procurement timelines were longer than anticipated, contractor performance and HSE compliance require firmer oversight information flow across our organs must improve and community expectations must be managed through earlier and more consistent engagement.”
He assured stakeholders that the trust would strengthen project monitoring, clarify institutional responsibilities, improve contractor accountability, digitise its processes and develop sustainability plans for its investments.
Theophilus expressed appreciation to FIRST E&P, NNPC Exploration & Production Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, community leaders, women, youths, persons living with disabilities, development partners and other stakeholders for their contributions to the trust’s activities.
For a better society
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
