- NUPRC says more than 1,100 development projects are currently underway across the Niger Delta under the HCDT framework.
- The Commission inaugurated the PML 66 Host Communities Development Trust, bringing together three host communities in Rivers State.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs) are implementing more than 1,100 development projects across the Niger Delta under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Kingsley Ehiaguina, Assistant Director of Host Community Development Affairs at NUPRC, announced the milestone during the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the PML 66 Host Communities Development Trust by Ingentia Energies Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The PML 66 Host Communities Development Trust serves the Egbolom, Omelema and Ahoada I communities in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Petroleum Industry Act introduced the Host Communities Development Trust framework in 2021 to ensure oil-producing communities receive direct benefits from petroleum operations through sustainable development projects funded by operating companies.
Ehiaguina described the inauguration as another milestone in implementing the Host Communities Development Trust framework. In addition, he disclosed that NUPRC has incorporated 163 Host Communities Development Trusts since the implementation of the framework. He added that operating companies have remitted billions of naira into the Trust accounts to finance community development projects.
He also revealed that the Trusts are currently executing more than 1,100 projects across the Niger Delta and have already completed and commissioned over 200 projects.
According to Ehiaguina, these achievements demonstrate that the Petroleum Industry Act and the Host Communities Development Trust framework continue to deliver measurable benefits to host communities.
He commended Ingentia Energies Limited for complying with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act and reaffirmed NUPRC’s commitment to ensuring the company remits its statutory three per cent contribution based on its previous year’s operating expenditure.
Ehiaguina urged the newly inaugurated Board of Trustees to manage the Trust transparently and prioritise projects that deliver sustainable development to the host communities.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ingentia Energies Limited, Charles Odita, said the company established the Trust after extensive consultations with stakeholders and representatives of the three host communities.
Odita explained that the Petroleum Industry Act gives host communities the authority to identify and prioritise projects financed through the statutory contribution. He expressed confidence that the Trust would accelerate socio-economic development by allowing community representatives to determine their development priorities.
Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Patrick Ndukwe, described the inauguration as a major milestone for the energy sector and the PML 66 host communities.
He encouraged the trustees to align community projects with the Rivers State Government’s development priorities, including infrastructure, transportation, education, healthcare, agriculture and sustainable urban and rural development.
Consultant to Ingentia Energies Limited, Godwin Minimah, said the inauguration of the Board of Trustees would strengthen collaboration between the company and its host communities while advancing sustainable community development.