PORT HARCOURT — The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) and other Niger Delta stakeholders have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for the successful implementation of 172 Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs).
The stakeholders described the development as a major boost to the development of oil-producing communities, while urging the Federal Government to ensure that all eligible communities are brought into the scheme.
The commendation was made on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where traditional rulers, host community leaders and other stakeholders deliberated on peace, security, unity and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
The stakeholders praised the NUPRC for what they described as effective coordination and teamwork in implementing the HCDT process.
They, however, called for the inclusion of all eligible oil-producing communities, saying wider coverage would accelerate development and ensure that more communities benefit from the initiative.
A major issue at the meeting was the controversy surrounding Gas Flare Penalty Funds, which the stakeholders alleged had remained unpaid to host communities for decades.
They appealed to President Tinubu to release the funds to environmentally degraded and economically disadvantaged communities in the Niger Delta.
According to them, the funds were intended to support development in communities that bear the environmental consequences of oil and gas exploration and production.
The stakeholders further urged the President to release the Gas Flare Penalty Funds to HOSTCOM, saying such a move would demonstrate his administration’s commitment to the welfare and development of oil-producing communities.
They also argued that the release of the funds would boost support for the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The forum commended the national leadership of HOSTCOM for providing a platform for stakeholders from oil-producing states to deliberate on issues affecting host communities and build consensus on the way forward.
Participants also praised the National President of HOSTCOM, His Highness Dr Benjamin Tamaranebi Style JP, for his leadership and efforts to unite various interests within the organisation.
The meeting, which attracted traditional rulers, host community leaders and other critical stakeholders from oil and gas-producing states, resolved to sustain collaboration and dialogue towards achieving lasting peace, security, unity and sustainable development across the Niger Delta.
