PIA: NGO Kicks as Oil Firms Allegedly Flout Community Development Plans
Okon Bassey in Uyo
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Initiative for Africa Society Inclusion and Diversity (INCLUD), has decried the alleged non-compliance of oil companies with extant community development plans of their Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs).
The observation was made by the Executive Director of the NGO, OlayinkaAkeredolu-Martins at a one-day town hall meeting held in Uyo, the Akwa IbomState capital.
This is as she also tasked them on effective community participation in the entire development process.
“It is unacceptable, a situation where oil companies have now made community development plan a document shrouded in secrecy. Regrettably, many communities have no access to it. In some cases, the supposed content of the development plan have been altered by them.
“Some of them now give motorcycles as development project, and N100,000bursary as against scholarship to students,” Akeredolu-Martins alleged.
Speaking further, the NGO’s executive director said: “As we move forward, it is essential that we continue to work together, as equal partners, to ensure that HOSTCOM is implemented in a way that is fair, equitable, and beneficial to all stakeholders.
“This will require us to be proactive, to be creative, and to be committed to finding solutions that work for everyone.”
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and made available to newsmen, the stakeholders warned that companies that fail to comply with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provision regarding the setting up of the HCDT should face sanctions.
It noted that the issue of non-compliance with community development plans is a recurring concern in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.
Participants further expressed disappointment over the absence of oil company representatives, including Universal Energy Resources Ltd (UERL) and TotalEnergies despite their earlier receipt and acknowledgement of invitations to the event.
The forum maintained that host communities often bear the brunt of environmental degradation and economic displacement caused by oil exploration and production activities and should therefore be held in high esteem.
The meeting was attended by representatives from host communities, government agencies, and civil society organisations.
The PIA established the HCDTs, which guide oil and gas company investments in community development.
However, experts have highlighted issues related to finance and governance mechanisms that need to be addressed to ensure effective implementation of the HCDTs.
