The KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust (KHCDT) in Bayelsa State has disclosed that it recorded about 78 per cent project execution in 2025.
The HCDT also revealed that it was alongside significant progress in governance, education, healthcare, water supply and other community development programmes across its 11 host communities in the state.
The year the Trust disclosed was marked by institutional consolidation and measurable progress aimed at improving the welfare of people in the KEFFESO host communities.
Speaking at the Trust’s 2025 Annual General Meeting on Friday in Yenagoa, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the HCDT, His Royal Highness, Moses Theophilus disclosed that the Trust supported 258 personnel in the education, health and water-service sectors, 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 strategic industry relationships.
He continued: “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 development, the Chairman said all four legacy concrete-road projects inherited from the previous GMoU framework had been completed.
He added that five solar-powered industrial boreholes were delivered, while water facilities in four communities were maintained.
According to him, projects approved for 2025 were ongoing across the 11 host communities and at the permanent site of the KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust, bringing overall project execution to 78 per cent.
Theophilus also highlighted the 2025 medical outreach supported by FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited, which he said reached 3,871 beneficiaries and distributed 916 pairs of eyeglasses.
He further noted the implementation of the K-yan digital education initiative in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
However, the Board Chairman acknowledged challenges relating to procurement delays, contractor performance and health, safety and environment compliance.
“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 said.
Theophilus said the Trust would strengthen project monitoring, clarify institutional roles, improve contractor accountability, digitise its processes and develop sustainability plans for its interventions.
“Our measure of success must go beyond the number of projects commissioned. We must ask whether our investments remain functional, whether they improve lives, whether communities take ownership and whether the benefits can be sustained for future generations,” he said.
Theophilus thanked FIRST E&P, NNPCL Exploration & Production Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, community leaders, women, youths, persons with disabilities, development partners and other stakeholders for their support.
Also presenting the Board of Trustees’ report, the Board Secretary, Dr. Matthew Sele-Epri, said the Board strengthened its oversight through regular meetings, committee reviews and monitoring of the Trust’s approved work plan and budget.
“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.
He said the Trust strengthened the roles of its Programmes Oversight, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee; Advocacy, Communications, Partnership and Stakeholder Management Committee; and Finance, Accounts, Audit and Risk Management Committee.
According to him, progress was recorded in procurement, recruitment, grievance management, stakeholder engagement, project delivery, 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.
Vetiva Capital and FBNQuest were also appointed to manage the Trust’s approved naira and dollar reserve investments.
Sele-Epri said the Board was satisfied that management operated substantially within its mandate, approved work plan and budget, while identifying areas requiring improvement, including information flow, performance appraisal, early risk escalation, reporting, timely project delivery, prudent resource utilisation, community participation and sustainability.
The Board subsequently endorsed the Management Implementation Report and audited financial statements for presentation at the Annual General Meeting.
It would be recalled that KEFFESO, comprises of Koluama, Ezetu, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, Sangana and Opu-Okumbiri, Okumbiribeleu and Oginibiri, is the Host Communities Development Trust of the NNPC Limited/FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited Joint Venture, operator of PML 53 and OML 54.