Leader of the Otita Movement, Gabriel Jonah is a power broker in Nembe politics. In times past, in the days when his elder brother, retired Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Gabriel used to be in charge of oil and gas matters in Nembe community. His followership is large, his network extensive, and every event hosted by Otita in Nembeb is bound to be overwhelming. The young admire him, and the old adore him for his open-handed goodwill. Even the chiefs venerate him.
When, therefore, Gabriel Jonah posted a message on his Facebook wall in the first week of August 2026, it caused a stir among the Nembe Chiefs Council. The leader of the Otita Movement called for caution and probity in the allocation and management of resources in the community. He was blunt and direct in his post, the content of which is worth quoting in full:
‘My concern this morning is that our community, Nembe (Ogbolomabiri) is receiving billions of Naira through the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), with nothing to show for it.
With such huge resources coming into the community, we should be seeing meaningful and sustainable development that will benefit the people, both now and in the future. There should be transparency and accountability in how the money is received, managed and spent.
I respect the King and the Chiefs Council, but leadership also comes with the responsibility to give the people a clear account of the community’s resources. We need to know what these funds are being used for, and what plans are in place to ensure that the wealth coming into our community creates lasting benefits for our people.
This is not about attacking anyone. It is about speaking up for the future of Nembe (Ogbolomabiri) and ensuring that the resources coming to Nembe City are properly managed for the benefit of everyone.
I am raising this because people are genuinely concerned. If the leadership does not clearly explain how these funds are being appropriated, I worry this could spiral into something else’.
The response to the post was immediate. It attracted a growing number of likes that got the Nembe Chiefs Council anxious. The comments following the post gave greater room for worry. It behoved the Council to make a quick riposte, and the lot fell on Chief Bright Erewari-Igbeta, Chairman, Board of Trustees, AITEO-Nembe City Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), to make clarifications on the use of the PIA funds.
Bright Erewari-Igbeta, a barrister at law and former Deputy Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, acknowledged the place of Gabriel Jonah as a respected indigene and opinion leader in Nembe Kingdom, and thought it fit and proper to clear any misunderstandings and misconceptions that may have been occasioned by the post in question.
To start with, according to Chief Erewari-Igbeta, the Trust operates under a very strict code of corporate governance which ensures that not a dime leaves its coffers without passing though the appropriate transparency and accountability measures set up by the PIA.
‘All funds released by the Trust are appropriated strictly for community development’, he said. ‘Every contract sum awarded and paid out by the Trust can be physically verified in the development project for which it was appropriated. All funds of the Trust can thus be traced to physically verifiable development projects which serve the people of Nembe’.
The Chairman said the comment about billions of Naira being expended by the Trust with nothing to show for it, was far from true. He maintained that funds expended can be seen and verified on the streets of Nembe City, as the Trust had ensured an almost 100% project completion rate, thereby eliminating the possibility of diverted funds.
‘In less than two years of its existence’, said the Chairman, ‘the AITEO-Nembe City HCDT had out-performed most of its peers in the sheer magnitude of projects undertaken and completed in the period under review. For instance, the Trust invested in the construction and rehabilitation of approximately five kilometers of concrete roads spread across Nembe City.
‘As a result, Nembe could boast of an inter-connected network of solid concrete roads, showcasing the investment of the Trust in infrastructure, with the added benefit of alleviating flooding and eliminating dilapidation’.
According to Chief Erewari-Igbeta, the Trust had undertaken the extension of the landmass of Nembe City by means of the Land Reclamation Project, a very enviable feat with long term benefits for every Nembe man.
‘This project is futuristic as it provides land for future development in the community. It cannot, therefore, be reasonably said that there is nothing to show for the funds received and expended by the Trust. The evidence clearly does not sustain such an aspersion’.
In the area of utilities, says the honourable barrister, the Trust has undertaken the reconstruction of the 100,000 liters overhead water facility in Nembe City, with a view to providing a permanent resolution to water shortages in the community. At completion, the facility would hold the capacity to provide uninterrupted water supply to the entire community, thereby bringing an end to the crisis of water shortage in Nembe City.
By the same token, the commitment of the Trust to invest in infrastructure extended beyond the shores of Nembe City, in view of the fact that the satellite communities are essential to the PIA process, being the source of the Nembe commonwealth. The BoT chairman cited projects like the construction and completion of the Nembe Creek jetty, which has been lauded as a star project by AITEO, and the completed jetty at Ologoama community.
He also cited the on-going construction of a Town Hall at Ewelesuo, school buildings at Oni community, and road projects in Fantuo as examples of the Trust’s commitment to ensuring that funds allocated are utilized for the even development of the entire Nembe Kingdom.
‘It is also not true that the funds have had no impact on the people of Nembe Kingdom, said the respectable barrister. ‘The Trust has invested in the area of human capital development, by the provision of fishing grants. It has also assisted small businesses within Nembe Kingdom and its satellite communities with grants to enhance capital for already existing businesses, and to boost economic development in the area. These grants are given in batches, and even more people are set to benefit from this economic boost in subsequent phases of the scheme.
‘With the aim of equipping and empowering the massive youth population, the Trust also initiated a Skills Acquisition Programme in conjunction with the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Warri, where it has trained hundreds of Nembe youths in various fields, preparing for gainful engagement in the petroleum industry. Some trainees were also equipped in non-industry skills that would make them self-reliant and employable, both within and outside the community.
‘Beyond the provision of grants and training of youths in the acquisition of skills, the extensive award of projects undertaken by the Trust within Nembe Kingdom is also believed to have benefitted hundreds, if not thousands of youths, and created gainful employment and engagement in the skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled categories. Masons, carpenters and even unskilled labour have benefitted immensely from the flurry of economic activity due to massive construction sponsored by the Trust’.
In the area of stimulating economic activity, according to Chief Erewari-Igbeta, it is indisputable that the past one year has seen Nembe become a beehive of economic activity stimulated by construction work awarded by the Trust. Sellers and suppliers of building materials, sand suppliers and other businesses run by Nembe people have benefited immensely from the construction embarked upon by the Trust. This unprecedented boost in construction activities has had a multiplier effect on the local economy and created wealth for Nembe people.
‘Beyond that’, said the war-canoe chief, ‘the Trust has made elaborate arrangements in its current budget to cater for the socio-economic well-being of the Nembe people in ways that will leave a lasting impact, and occasion sustainable development. These programs will be unveiled at the appropriate time.
‘Pursuant also to the provisions of the PIA, the Trust has invested the statutory 20% of all its earnings with a reputable funds manager approved by the NUPRC. This guarantees that funds received are not all spent on today’s development, but are also reserved and available for future purposes, in the interest of Nembe Kingdom’.
Chief Erewari-Igbeta was not done yet. On the matter of transparency and accountability, he sought to clarify and reiterate that all financial dealings and payments made by the Trust have been double checked and approved by the Settlor, in accordance with the provisions of the PIA. By law, the Settlor serves as a check on the processes to ensure that funds belonging to the Trust are not misappropriated.
‘Quite recently, the Settlor sent its team to physically inspect and verify all projects undertaken by the Trust. Financial records as cross verified by Regulators are available, and will be presented to the community at the appropriate fora’, said the respectable lawyer.
As far as he was concerned, while the comments of Gabriel Jonah were given in good conscience, they were not supported by available data, and had absolutely no bearing with the reality on ground, and the work undertaken by the AITEO-Nembe City Host Community Development Trust.
Ultimately, Chief Bright Erewari-Igbeta says he is open to constructive criticism and productive suggestions in a bid to achieve the eventuality of a Greater Nembe for all.
