…As Anatolia Energy inaugurates Nembe Okiori Host Community Devt Trust in Bayelsa
Edmund Daukoru, onetime minister of state for petroleum, has credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with more participation of host communities in oil operations. He also said Tinubu has caused more shift in oil ownership to Nigerian operators.
This is as Anatolia Energy inaugurates Nembe Okiori Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) in Bayelsa State.
Daukoru, now king and Amanyanabo of Nembe kingdom in Bayelsa State, spoke in his remarks at the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) in Okiori community inauguration. He applauded President Tinubu for, as he put it, prioritising the welfare and participation of oil communities in the oil and gas sector.
The royal father noted that the policies being pursued by the Tinubu-led administration have empowered indigenous players to participate in the sector hitherto dominated by International Oil Companies.
He listed the acquisition of onshore and shallow waters assets hitherto operated by foreign firms by indigenous companies as result of Tinubu’s leadership.
“I wish to thank Mr President for providing the enabling environment for oil communities to benefit from the operations of oil companies.
“The President from his body language and policy implementations prioritised the welfare of the people who bear the brunt of oil exploration and production and encouraging indigenous companies to participate in the oil and gas sector,” he said.
Daukoru, urged members of the Nembe Okiori HCDT to see their nomination as a call to service and ensure that funds accruing to the Trust were judiciously deployed for development of Nembe communities.
Anatolia Energy and Services Limited, operator of Prospecting License 204 (Nembe Okiori Oilfield), with support from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), had on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, inaugurated the Nembe Okiroi Host Community Development Trust in line with the stipulation of the Petroleum Industry Act, (PIA, 2021).
Oil Mining License (OML) 204 is located in Okiori in Bayelsa State. It is indicated as part of the Oloibiri Oilfield. OML 204 is said to be an “onshore” oil field, while Oil Prospecting License (OPL), like Okiori, is an oil prospecting license.
The 18-member Host Community Development Trust to be led by Howells Isaiah Young Dede as chairman was inaugurated before Nembe community leaders and dignitaries including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), represented by Sylvester Bighoro; the Mingi of Nembe Kingdom, Edmund Daukoru; David Alagoa, Executive Chairman of Nembe Local Government, as well as the management of Anatolia Energy and Services Limited led by the chairman, Toyin Olagunju, and Adeleke Adedipe, Chief Operating Officer.
Speaking at the HCDT inauguration, Gbenga Komolafe, the chief executive of NUPRC, who was represented by Sylvester Bighoro, head of Bayelsa Field Office of the commission, noted that some 103 HCDTs have been inaugurated so far.
He said that the HCDTs were platforms provided under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA, 2021) to utilise the three per cent operational expenses by operating oil companies for development of their host communities.
Speaking earlier, Adedipe, the Chief Operating Officer of the oil firm, explained that leading to the incorporation of the Nembe Okiori HCDT, the company conducted development needs assessment of its eight communities which metamorphosed into the Community Development Plan set for implementation.
Toyin Olagunju, Chairman of Anatolia Energy, urged the HCDT members to emulate King Daukoru’s noble dispositions to work for the development of Nembe communities.
He noted that Daukoru, an encyclopedia of Niger Delta geology, is an asset to the nation and is volunteering his knowledge to develop the Nembe kingdom as a king.
Olagunju commended NUPRC for establishing the governance structure to drive the smooth running of the HCDTs.
He urged the newly inaugurated Nembe Okiori HCDT to justify the trust of the communities they represent and pledged to meet the development obligations to the Nembe communities.
