The House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities has raised alarm over the alleged misappropriation of N373 billion allocated for development projects and social empowerment programmes in oil-bearing communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, disclosed that the House may soon consider a bill seeking to restructure or replace the leadership of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) that have received substantial funding but failed to execute even a single project for over a year.
Dekor made the remarks during his presentation at the Stakeholders Dialogue Forum (SDF) organized by the Bridges Project in partnership with political leaders, traditional rulers, and the Akwa Ibom State Government.
The two-day forum, themed “Four Years of the PIA: Lessons, Gains, and the Path Forward for HCDTs,” was held at Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, and facilitated by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) with support from the Ford Foundation.
According to Dekor, despite the huge funds available to Trusts nationwide, many have failed to commence meaningful projects.
“Over N373 billion is available to all the Trusts. What percentage of this has been put to use?” he queried, stressing the need for urgent intervention.
He added that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the House would work with PIND and other stakeholders to investigate the alleged lapses. If necessary, he said, “the House would propose legislation to overhaul or replace Trust leadership to safeguard the interests of host communities.”
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the NUPRC Chief Executive, Mrs. Omolade Awah, Manager of Host Community Development Administration, commended PIND and the Ford Foundation for strengthening transparency and accountability in PIA implementation. She noted that “the HCDT framework is already delivering visible benefits through infrastructure and human-capital development projects.”
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PIND Executive Director, Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, highlighted that the Bridges Project has demonstrated the importance of collaboration, trust and shared accountability in the success of the PIA and HCDTs.
“The Bridges Project has shown that success of the PIA, and particularly the HCDT model, depends not on compliance, but on collaboration, trust, and shared accountability.”
“The lessons learned from this process provide a roadmap for the years ahead, guiding how we strengthen partnership, deepen engagement, and sustain the gains of host community development,” he noted.
Also speaking, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Linus Nkan, emphasized the need to extend the principles of trust, accountability, and continuous learning to all Niger Delta state governments.
The forum also featured the presentation of the Bridges Project Status Report, which outlined major progress in boosting awareness of PIA provisions, enhancing stakeholder collaboration, and promoting new models of participatory governance.
