Niger Delta Communities Mobilise Petroleum Industry Act Funds for Sustainable Development
Oil-producing communities across the Niger Delta are stepping up efforts to leverage the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for rapid and sustainable development. At a recent town hall meeting in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, stakeholders from government, civil society, and host communities gathered to deepen awareness of how the Act’s Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) can transform local economies. The event was part of the Bridges Project roadshow organised by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).
The Bridges Project aims to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the implementation of the PIA, which allocates three per cent of oil companies’ operational expenditures to host communities. According to PIND’s Advocacy Manager, Chuks Ofulue, many communities still do not fully understand how to register or manage HCDTs. “The PIA opens doors for communities to take charge of their development,” Ofulue said. “With the right knowledge, communities can ensure transparency, demand accountability, and actively shape projects that benefit them.”
Signed into law in 2021, the PIA ushered in far-reaching reforms to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, including the creation of HCDTs to fund community-led development projects. However, most host communities remain unfamiliar with the framework or their role in it. Ofulue explained that demystifying the Act puts power directly in the hands of residents, enabling them to prevent conflict and make sure projects truly reflect their priorities.
Delta State stakeholders also called for stronger collaboration between existing HCDTs. Sylvester Okoh, Chairman of the state’s multi-stakeholder platform, urged more trusts to join the network to share experiences and tackle common challenges. “Because HCDTs are backed by law, there are now clear directives to ensure better outcomes for our communities,” Okoh said. Participants, including Board of Trustees leaders from Ogulagha Tora-Abade, Warri Kingdom Coastal, and Ogulagha-Ibe Agbonu HCDTs, expressed optimism that the new framework would deliver visible results.
Grassroots leaders and community members welcomed the campaign as a turning point. “For years, our communities have heard about the PIA but didn’t really understand how it affects us,” said Pender Agwarive, BOT Chairman of Uherevie HCDT. Stella Ejeh, a native of Olomoro in Isoko South, added: “In my community, we have seen many uncompleted and abandoned projects, but with platforms like this, we believe that we can finally see real changes.” With awareness spreading across Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Ondo states, PIND’s consultant Rachael Misan-Ruppee said the organisation is confident that communities are now better equipped to manage development projects responsibly.
source: punch