CHRAN Scores Seplat Energy’s EMOIMEE In Akwa Ibom High

By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo

The Center For Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) members, together with a team of journalists, yesterday, embarked on fact finding tour of life enhancement projects executed by Seplat Energy under EMOIMEE in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Led by the Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, the team was conducted round various sites of the thirty-five listed ongoing projects by the Non-Executive representative of Mkpat Enin in the Management Committee of EMOIMEE, Rev. Obot Ekanem, where they interacted with contractors handling the various projects inspected and gathered firsthand information about the projects.

Some of the projects visited were: renovation of existing 4Nos classroom block and Assembly Hall, perimeter fencing and gate house, construction of 4Nos new classroom block, offices and ICT/library, modern toilet, construction of new two bedroom flat staff quarters etc in QIC Primary School, Ikot Obio Ndoho.

Others were the renovation work on existing 6Nos of classroom block with office and toilet in Ndon Ibotio; construction of modern toilet with borehole, overhead water tank at Group School, Ikot Ayan/Edim; construction of modern toilet with borehole and overhead water tank at St. John’s Primary School, Asong; construction of 1 Nos of solar inverter powered borehole with stanchion and reticulation in community health centre, Ndon Ibotio among several others.

EMOIMEE is a Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) established by Seplat Energy, the new owners of the Mobil Producing Nigeria, for the oil-producing local government areas of Eket, Mbo, ONNA, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo and Esit Eket in July 2023 under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021 to fund community development projects, enhance skill acquisition of the people and support their educational advancement.

During the tour, the team noted that two years of existence, EMOIMEE in Mkpat Enin LGA led by Engr. Sunny Udo, Rev. Obot Ekanem and Mr. innocent Idem among others has exhibited the tendency to transparency and accountability in the distribution of projects, selection of contractors and projects execution in line with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, in order to ensure that the oil giant execute its trust fund projects code-named, Host Community Development Trust to better the life of the people as part of its corporate social responsibility projects.

The team also observed that the toilet facility built in each of the location visited, were constructed in line with the WASH policy of the state government to promote standard water sanitation and hygiene as the state moves towards ensuring Open Defecation Free (ODF) environment by 2030 development goal.

Speaking after the tour, CHRAN Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong said that the decision of the Center as a CSO with the core mandates of ensuring transparency, accountability and good governance in the country to embark on the exercise was to check and verify the extent of the projects and by extension, ensure accountability in the delivery of good governance by Seplat Energy through EMOIMEE in Mkpat Enin.

“As a good governance civil society advocacy group, we embark on this tour today because we owe a responsibility of holding institutions accountable to the people and EMOIMEE is a public institution being used by Seplat Energy to execute life touching projects for its oil bearing host community including Mkpat Enin. The management committee was inaugurated by Seplat Energy in July 2023 and by July 2025, the management committee spent two years in office. That is why we have to assess its activities to appraise the performance after two years of existence as trust fund operated by Seplat Energy for host community development.

“And if we do not hold EMOIMEE accountable to the people of Mkpat Enin and ensure that the intended purpose of the trust fund is achieved, no other person will do it. Therefore, just as we are policing and demanding accountability from the executive and legislative arms of government at the local, state and federal government levels, we also owe a duty to demand accountability from EMOIMEE not only in Mkpat Enin but EMOIMEE in the other six local government areas should be appraised for the sake of transparency and accountability.

“From the visit, we have seen firsthand that there are projects ongoing across Mkpat Enin local government area through EMOIMEE sponsored by Seplat Energy as its corporate social responsibility to its oil-bearing host community. As we have seen, most of the projects are at 30%, 60% and 75% completion.

“Again, we are not going to stop here. We will continue to monitor the progress of work done at the various projects sites to ensure that they are executing the projects based on accountability and transparency, and be responsible to the people of the state.

“The CHRAN is satisfied with the progress at the various projects sites. We commend EMOIMEE in Mkpat Enin and urged them to maintain the tempo, while we call on EMOIMEE in Ikot Abasi, Eastern Obolo, ONNA, Eket, Esit Eket and Mbo to allow room for independent assessment of their record of performance and scorecards after two years of existence,” the Director of CHRAN asserted.

CHRAN Director commended the Mkpat Enin branch of EMOIMEE for being accessible and for making public its scorecard for appraisal by the CHRAN, adding that by the development, EMOIMEE in Mkpat Enin has shown itself to be a responsible trust being manned by people whose focus is the development of Mkpat Enin.

In his comments also, the Non-executive member of EMOIMEE, Mkpat Enin branch, Revd Obot Ekanem, who was the tour guide, applauded CHRAN for its decision to have an on the spot assessment of the projects in different locations of Mkpat Enin and interfaced with contractors handling the various projects to ensure accountability of the trust fund spent in each of the projects.

He added that the interest as shown by CHRAN as a civil society organisation, will assist immensely in the development of the state and for a corruption free society.

CHRAN is an internationally recognised human rights cum pro-democracy organisation committed to promoting good governance, rule of law and holding public office holders accountable to the people.