Ebenezer Adurokiya
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), in collaboration with Ford Foundation, is facilitating a week-long capacity building for host communities on implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The workshop, which is held in Warri, Delta State, starting on Tuesday, is coming barely two years after the enactment of the Act.
Representatives of the host communities were drawn from five epicentre states of oil and gas extractive activities in the Niger Delta region.
The participants at the capacity building initiative anchored on restructuring the management of the host communities and regulating the midstream and downstream operations, among others, were drawn from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers and Ondo states.
The Executive Director of PIND, Mr Tunji Idowu, while addressing the delegation, noted with delight the execution of the PIA since it was signed into law on August 16, 2021, in the effort to establish good governance, best practices and ease of doing business in the oil and gas sector.
He said “in restructuring the management of the host communities, Chapter 3 of the PIA mandates the creation of the Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) to improve the quality of life of the host communities’ population and improve accountability in the management of the HCDT Fund.
“The project activities include creating awareness and deepening knowledge of the PIA’s technical components among community stakeholders.”
Idowu, the Advocacy Manager, Chuks Ofulue, represented and called for accountability from the various Host Communities Development Trusts.
He insisted that one of the gains expected from the PIA “is sustainable community development, manifested by the requirement for Participatory Needs Assessment (PNA) and Community Development Plans (CDP) to deliver sustainable growth”.
He stated that “capacity building of stakeholders will be a key element in ensuring the success and longevity of the Host Community Development Trust and, in particular, building the capacities of members of the HCBoT, HCMC, and the HCAC”.
He spoke further, “It will enable members of the three components of the Trust to align their functions with the interests of the various community stakeholders.
“So, it is left for host communities to select people with integrity who will not divert their funds or use such for personal investments but for the benefit of the community.
“This is already ongoing between the oil companies and host communities as the accruing fund is now being put in the Host Communities Development Trust, to be managed by accredited representatives of the host communities themselves. So, the era of the oil companies short-changing host communities is gone.
“This forum is preparing the host communities for the benefits of the PIA as the communities are getting the capacity, the skills to be able to manage the funds for their development.
“This is the time for host communities to take their destinies into their own hands. Now that the funds are in their hands, the communities should keep monitoring eyes on their representatives in the Trust to ensure accountability.”
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