Host Communities Development Trusts Get N80bn for Projects

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Over N80 billion has been given to the Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs) for projects execution in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The National President, Host Communities of Nigeria, Producing Oil and Gas, Dr. Benjamin Style Tamaran-ebi, disclosed this at a town hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The meeting was organised by the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in conjunction with HOSTCOM project management and advisory Konsult Limited, for Host Communities Development Board of Trustees.

Tamaran-ebi, who spoke on ‘Host Communities Trust Financing and Utilisation of Host Communities Trust Fund’, tasked  the host communities stakeholders drawn from Akwa Ibom and Abia States, including  traditional leaders, to ensure responsible and transparent use of the funds meant for the implementation of projects in their impacted communities.  He regretted that funds from the three per cent Operational Expenditure  (3 percent OPEX) were yet to be allocated to  affected communities who are yet to form their Trusts due to litigations arising from leadership struggle and other complaints.

“Some Trusts have been allocated funds.  We have clearly verified that 70 Trusts have been funded with the sum of more than N80billion and the dollar component is more than $150million.

“The N80billion is meant for  development projects. With this transparency, I assure you that within a gap of five years, there’s going to be massive transformation in our oil and gas communities.

“This is just for 2021 and 2022. We are still expecting the 2023 funds. 167 Trusts have been created, and out of the 167, seventy have been funded.

“So you should know about this. What we have been advocating over the years is that host communities should be allowed to develop themselves,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, identified the achievements of the commission to include setting up two Dispute Resolution centres in Lagos and Bayelsa States to ensure adequate mediation of disputes arising from the HCDT implementation process.

Komolafe, who was represented by state Coordinator of NUPRC, Williams Etukudo, said: “The commission will continue to do its best within the ambit of the provisions of the PIA 2021 and the NUPRC 2022, to ensure smooth and speedy implementation and operationalisation of the HCDT while ensuring that all stakeholders are adequately carried along.

“It is in this respect that the commission entered into Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Hostcom Project Management and Advisory Konsult Limited to create awareness on the provisions of the PIA 2021 and efforts of the commission while seeking feedback from communities and oil stakeholders.”

In his message to the forum, the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Akwa Ibom State, Chief Etim Uno, stressed that there was need for members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), the management committees and advisory committees  to work hand in hand to ensure smooth and speedy implementation of the PIA in impacted communities in the  state.

Uno, represented by the Head of Petroleum Resources in the ministry, Anietie Emah, expressed worry that certain issues, including the clamour to chair or belong to any of the communities, has hampered the PIA implementation process in some Akwa Ibom State oil and gas communities.