The KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust (KEFFESO HCDT) has said that it recorded significant progress in governance, financial oversight and infrastructure delivery in 2025.

The Board of Trustees Secretary, Dr Matthew Sele-Epri, who disclosed this at the Trust’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, also said that the trust achieved 78 per cent project implementattion rate.

The theme for the AGM is “Stewardship Today, Transformation Tomorrow: Delivering Sustainable Value Through Transparency and Impact.”

Mr Sele-Epri said that the board strengthened oversight through statutory meetings and enhanced its programmes oversight, monitoring, evaluation, finance, audit and risk management.

He further said that HCDT registered with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and appointed Forvis Mazars as external auditor following a selection process.

“Additionally, Vetiva Capital and FBNQuest were appointed to manage approved naira and dollar reserve investments,” he said.

The board Chairman, Moses Theophilus, noted that four legacy concrete-road projects inherited from the General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) framework were completed.

Mr Theophilus said five solar-powered industrial boreholes were delivered and water facilities in four communities rehabilitated.

He said that the trust supported 258 education, health and water-service personnel, profiled 229 persons living with disabilities, and enrolled 40 youths in technical initiatives.

Highlighting the trust’s impact in social investments, Theophilus commended FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Ltd. (FIRST E&P) for a medical outreach that benefited 3,871 persons.

The chairman acknowledged challenges in procurement timelines and contractor performance, and reiterated the need for firmer compliance and early risk escalation.

Anita Osagie, representing FIRST E&P’s Managing Director, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, lauded the trust’s 78 per cent implementattion rate and its receipt of the Host Community Human Capacity Development Excellence Award.

Mr Osagie reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting sustainable development, healthcare and education in host communities.

He urged community stakeholders to protect and own investments in their domain

KEFFESO is an acronym for Koluama, Ezetu, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, Sangana and Opu-Okumbiri/Okumbiribeleu/Oginibiri communities under the NNPC Ltd./FIRST E&P Joint Venture operating PML 53 and PML 54. 

(NAN)