Pursuant of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), TotalEnergies has handed over the OLO Oilfield Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) to Aradel Holdings Plc.
This transition follows Aradel’s earlier acquisition of the Olo and Olo West marginal fields (formerly part of OML 58) from the TotalEnergies/NNPCL Joint Venture, and formally completes the transfer of settlor responsibilities under the trust, ensuring that community development work already underway continues without interruption.
Speaking at the Hand-Over ceremony in Abuja, weekend, the Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the development trust remains intact, its governance structure preserved and its statutory funding obligations transitioning seamlessly to the new settlor as envisioned by the PIA.
Represented by the Executive Commissioner, for Health, Safety, Environment, and Community (HSEC), John Tonlagha, Eyesan explained that the Commission would continue to provide firm and consistent oversight to ensure full compliance with the PIA for the benefit of both the communities and the industry.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Community Affairs, Projects and Development, TotalEnergies, Dornu Kogam, urged Aradel Holdings to maintain the same transparent, community-centered approach throughout project completion.
TotalEnergies further confirmed that all obligations up to the date of transfer have been fully met, and no outstanding liabilities remain adding that Aradel formally assumes full responsibility going forward, with the Commission’s regulatory consent granted.
In his remarks, the Community Affairs Manager, Aradel Holdings Plc, Blessyn Okpowo, affirmed the company’s commitment to honouring all PIA obligations and continuing Total Energies’ community engagement approach.“We want to say that in line with the PIA, we will honour commitments and duties required of the settlor and we want to work very smoothly with the way TotalEnergies has worked with them,” he stated.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees, OLO host community, Wales Godwin, commended the HCDT’s delivery of 118 projects out of 160 planned.
He recognised the Commission’s role in approving the Community Development Plan (CDP) before project start, underscoring regulatory excellence.The parties noted that between 2023 and 2025, the trust has enabled the completion of more than 100 community projects, spanning water supply, electricity, road infrastructure, education, and healthcare with a further 40 projects currently ongoing.
