Business

RMAFC Tasks Oil Companies On Corporate Social Responsibility

Published

8 months ago

September 13, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has charged oil compnies to show commitment towards the implementation of the corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to their host communities.

Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu OFR gave the charge during a mediatery meeting between Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), Orient Petroleum and their host communities in Anambra state which was witnessed by the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on Friday 12th September, 2025 at the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.

Dr. M. B. Shehu emphasized that RMAFC was committed to ensuring that oil companies operating in Nigeria live up to their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to host communities, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The Chairman who reminded everyone that the meeting was instituted as a result of allegation of neglect by host communities against the oil companies, gave the assurance that the Commission would be unbiased while discharging it’s duty as a mediator “This Commission will always stand for transparency and fairness. We expect oil companies to meet their obligations to the people in whose communities they operate,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Investment Monitoring Committee (IMC) in the Commission, Hon. Ekene Enefe, who later presided over the meeting, expressed displeasure over SEEPCO’s performance in meeting community development expectations. He said, “Based on the facts before us with regard to CSR, what we see here is not satisfactory. SEEPCO still has a lot of jobs to do, and we would like to see real projects on the ground — roads, schools, hospitals, electricity, and jobs for the people in the host communities. This is the result we expect from the deductions made from operational costs.”

The IMC Chairman further directed SEEPCO to provide the Commission with audited reports of its 3% host community expenditure since the implementation of the PIA. He added that the Commission would carry out oversight visits to verify compliance. “We would like to tally the projects executed with the reported deductions. Our committee will not hesitate to exercise its oversight function to ensure that host communities benefit as the law demands,” Hon. Enefe stated.

Speaking on behalf of the host communities of Ogwu Ikpele and Ogwu Aniocha in Anambra State, leader of the delegation, Mr. Esumai Patrick lamented years of neglect and unfulfilled promises. He said, “Our people live without good roads, schools, or hospitals while companies drill oil on our land.” He further said, “We welcome investment, but what we ask is fairness. We want to see electricity, jobs for our youths, and real development projects that will touch lives in our communities.”

The representative of SEEPCO, Barr. Emmanuel Ajang assured the Commission that the company had begun the implementation of its Host Community Development Trust. He explained that identified projects would soon be executed in line with the provisions of the PIA.

Speeking, Engr. Ayke Akuwezumba, who represented Orient Petroleum, disclosed that the company had redirected its operations toward gas production through a partnership with Cottonwooden Gas Refinery. “We are channeling our resources to compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production, which will serve industries and households in the region. This is a sustainable plan with long-term benefits for the economy,” he said.

On the regulatory front, Mr. Enorense Amadasu, Executive Commissioner, Development and Production at NUPRC, assured that the regulator was closely monitoring the companies. “We are reconciling their metering systems and ensuring that statutory obligations to the Federation are met. Community development projects under the Host Community Trust are also being tracked to guarantee compliance,” he said.

Other RMAFC Commissioners present, including Hon. Hauwa Umar Aliyu (Jigawa State), Hon. Ntufam Eyo-Nsa (Cross River State), Hon. Abdulazeez Idris King (Kogi State), Hon. Desmond Akawor (Rivers State), Hon. Nathaniel Adojutelegan (Ondo State), Hon. Ibrahim Saad Bello (Plateau State), and Hon. Aruviere Egharhevwa ( Delta State) stressed the need for accurate reporting of crude production and proper accountability in community development.

Maryam Umar Yusuf, mnipr
Head, Information and Public Relations Unit
(RMAFC)

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Agriculture

PULA, Leadway Assurance Disburse ₦396 Million to Climate-Affected Farmers, Strengthen Food Security Efforts

Published

3 weeks ago

April 24, 2026

The Gleamer

In a major intervention to shield smallholder farmers from climate shocks, agri-insurtech firm PULA has spearheaded the disbursement of ₦396,697,672 in insurance claims to over 40,000 farmers impacted during the 2025 wet season.

The payout, executed in partnership with Leadway Assurance and supported by the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), covered farmers across Taraba, Borno, Kaduna, and Plateau States who suffered climate-related losses.

The initiative was made possible in part by Bayer Foundation, whose $450,000 premium subsidy support in 2025 wet season helped lower the cost of insurance for thousands of vulnerable smallholders in 8 states, with 4 states receiving payouts. The Foundation is set to scale up its contribution to match the growing aspirations of state governments.

Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony in Abuja during the 2025 Wet Season Insurance Claims Payout under the National Agribusiness Planning Mechanism (NAPM), PULA’s Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Michael Enahoro, said the initiative goes beyond compensation, insisting that it’s about securing Nigeria’s food systems.

“Our focus is not just on payouts but on increasing food production. We must continue to support farmers who work tirelessly under harsh conditions to feed the nation,” Dr. Enahoro said. He called for stronger policies that directly impact farmers and reaffirmed PULA’s commitment to expanding agricultural insurance as a tool for resilience.

PULA’s data-driven approach to climate risk was key to identifying affected farmers and triggering payments. The company worked with Leadway Assurance to underwrite the risk, while PFSCU aligned the program with the national food security agenda. State governments also supported grassroots enrollment.

Gboyega Lesi, MD/CEO of Leadway Assurance, described the payout as “a reinforcement of a safety net that protects the hard work of thousands of farmers,” adding that “through climate insurance, we ensure that a bad season does not translate into total loss of livelihood.” He commended PULA’s technology and field structure for making rapid, transparent payouts possible.

Ayoola Fatona, Global Head of Agric Solutions at Leadway Assurance, noted that the 2025 wet season brought significant climate variability and yield fluctuations. “The true value of insurance lies in claims payment, especially in challenging periods. Our data-driven partnership with PULA helped mitigate losses,” he said.

Looking ahead, PULA and Leadway Assurance plan to scale coverage to 73,000 farmers in the 2026 farming season, deepening penetration of climate insurance across Nigeria’s food-producing belts.

Commissioners from the beneficiary states commended PULA and Leadway Assurance for de-risking agriculture, restoring farmers’ confidence, and building a more resilient agricultural sector

State-by-state breakdown of claims facilitated by PULA: