RismadarVoice Reporters, June 19, 2026
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has emphasised that sustainable development in Nigeria’s oil and gas host communities can only be achieved through trust, dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders.
Ekpo stated this during a one-day Sensitisation and Enlightenment Workshop on the Community Content Guidelines held in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, where he stressed the need to position host communities as active participants and beneficiaries in the petroleum value chain.
Represented by his wife, Lady Esitmbom Ekpo, the Minister called on government agencies, operating companies, contractors, traditional institutions, youth groups and civil society organisations to work together to ensure the successful implementation of community content initiatives.
He described the Community Content Guidelines as a strategic framework designed to deepen inclusion, expand economic opportunities and promote sustainable development in oil-producing communities.
According to him, while the oil and gas industry remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy, its long-term sustainability depends largely on the support and active participation of communities where petroleum resources are produced.
Ekpo noted that the guidelines are intended to deliver tangible benefits through employment opportunities, skills acquisition, enterprise development, social investments and meaningful engagement with host communities.
He explained that the framework seeks to increase the participation of qualified community-based businesses and individuals in petroleum operations, encourage the growth of local enterprises and contractors, and reduce conflicts arising from misinformation and exclusion.
“When properly implemented, these Guidelines will help transform host communities from passive observers into active participants and beneficiaries of industry activities,” he said.
The Minister linked the initiative to the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas Programme, noting that Nigeria’s abundant gas resources provide significant opportunities for industrialisation, job creation and economic diversification.
He stressed that host communities must be strategically positioned to benefit from these opportunities through workforce development, entrepreneurship, local contracting and skills acquisition programmes.
Ekpo also highlighted the importance of empowering youths and women, urging increased investment in vocational training, entrepreneurship development, digital skills and other capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing participation in the petroleum industry.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to balancing investment growth with community welfare, he said efforts were ongoing to create an enabling environment that attracts investors while ensuring that host communities enjoy sustainable benefits from petroleum resource development.
He commended the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for organising the workshop, expressing confidence that the engagement would strengthen stakeholder relations, improve community participation and advance the objectives of local content development in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
