The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was heralded as a landmark piece of legislation, designed to transform Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, protect the environment, and secure benefits for host communities through the establishment of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs). On paper, it appears to be a long-overdue reform aimed at correcting historical injustices and ensuring that oil-producing communities reap tangible rewards from the resources beneath their soil. But as with many...

In a period when many citizens doubt whether leaders still place people above politics, the Chairman of Mbo Local Government Area has offered a refreshing example. His recent decision to pay bursaries to Mbo students in higher institutions is not only commendable, but the manner in which it has been handled sets a standard worth celebrating. For years, bursary awards in different parts of Nigeria have been marred by secrecy, favoritism, or outright neglect. Students often wait endlessly...

Nigeria has been here before. In 1993, one man’s decision — General Ibrahim Babangida’s annulment of the June 12 presidential election — overturned the will of the people and set this country back decades. That single act shattered trust in governance, emboldened impunity, and entrenched the belief that power could be wielded without accountability. Three decades later, we still live with the consequences. It happened because Nigeria has long relied on strong men, not...

In a robust display of community-focused leadership, the Emoimee Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) Mbo convened a stakeholders' meeting yesterday that reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare and sustainable development of Mbo communities. With a packed agenda and an engaged audience, the meeting highlighted the successes of the Trust, its ongoing challenges, and a renewed vision for the future. From education and business empowerment to healthcare and maritime support, Emoimee HCDT is...

Date: August 1, 2025 The Chairman,Emoimee Host Community Development Trust (HCDT),Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Dear Ma, This letter is written with a sense of deep urgency and profound disappointment. We are compelled to formally express our outrage at the continuing delay in releasing the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) funds due to Mbo Local Government Area—a delay that now borders on intentional sabotage. It is utterly unacceptable that, nearly seven months after contracts were...

The establishment of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) marked a historic shift in how the Nigerian state seeks to address the deep-rooted developmental deficits in oil-producing communities. For decades, the promises of resource wealth failed to materialize for the communities bearing the brunt of exploration and exploitation. The HCDTs were designed to change that narrative by ensuring that a percentage of oil companies' operating expenses go...

Your Excellency, Permit me to begin this humble appeal by expressing deep gratitude and admiration for your unwavering commitment to the future of Akwa Ibom State—its youth. The decision of the State Executive Council on June 26th to host the Arise Skill Development Week from July 13th to 15th, in alignment with the United Nations World Youth Skills Day, is not only timely but visionary. More than just an event, it symbolizes your administration’s unshakable belief that the youth...

In the early 21st century, Israel’s Iron Dome emerged as one of the most iconic and widely publicized missile defense systems in the world. Launched in 2011, it rapidly earned a reputation for intercepting incoming short-range rockets with remarkable precision, giving Israeli civilians a sense of protection and the international community a powerful symbol of technological prowess in warfare. The Iron Dome was more than a military tool—it became a national psychological shield....

Every year, June 5 marks World Environment Day — a global moment for reflection, awareness, and action on the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The theme for 2025, "Ending Plastic Pollution", could not be more urgent, especially for Nigeria, where the proliferation of plastic waste has reached alarming proportions. From clogged drainage systems to littered urban streets and polluted waterways, the environmental and health consequences of plastic pollution are visible...

Leadership is often romanticized as a position of power, influence, and prestige. However, at its core, leadership is about making decisions—some of which are incredibly difficult, laden with moral complexity, and fraught with consequences. The essence of leadership is not found in the easy choices, but in the willingness and ability to make the hard ones. History is replete with examples of leaders who were faced with difficult decisions that would define their legacies and shape the...

Mbo Local Government Area, one of the five LGAs in Oro Nation, Akwa Ibom State, is uniquely positioned to benefit from Nigeria’s oil and gas wealth. Rich in natural resources and strategically located, Mbo has long played host to extractive activities. With the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, a new era of structured benefit-sharing was introduced, particularly through the Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) as stipulated under Section 3 of the Act. Yet,...

In a transformative move poised to uplift the socio-economic fabric of Mbo Local Government Area, the Skills and Entrepreneur Development Committee of Mbo will soon launch the Mbo Arise Enterprise Programme—a visionary initiative aimed at empowering the youth, men, and women of Mbo with in-demand skills necessary to thrive in today's competitive economy. This bold and progressive step is a testament to the leadership and foresight of the Chairman of Mbo, Mr Sunday Okon Etim, who has not...