Oil Producing Communities Vow to Exploit PIA for Sustainable Growth

By Naija Enquirer Staff

Oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta have vowed to utilize the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to ensure rapid and sustainable development across the region.

The commitment was made during a townhall series held in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, under the Bridges Project roadshow organized by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND). The event aimed to build awareness and capacity for the effective implementation of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs).

Empowering Communities Through Awareness

PIND, in a statement, said the initiative brought together a diverse group of stakeholders — including community leaders, regulators, civil society organizations, and settler representatives — to deepen understanding of the HCDT registration process and promote the equitable distribution of oil industry resources.

The Bridges Project, according to organizers, seeks to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the implementation of the PIA, which mandates oil companies to allocate three percent of their operational expenditure to host community development.

“The PIA opens doors for communities to take charge of their development. But awareness is key. With the right knowledge, communities can ensure transparency, demand accountability, and actively shape projects that benefit them,” said Chuks Ofulue, PIND’s Advocacy Manager.

Driving Local Ownership and Accountability

Signed into law in 2021, the PIA introduced sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, including the establishment of the HCDTs to promote community-led development. However, many host communities remain unfamiliar with how these trusts function or how to engage effectively in the process.

“The PIA is not just a law; it is an opportunity. By demystifying the Act and the HCDT framework, we are putting knowledge directly in the hands of the people who matter most. This empowers communities to engage constructively, prevent conflict, and ensure that projects truly reflect their priorities,” Ofulue added.

Collaborative Approach to Development

The Chairman of the Delta State Multi-Stakeholder Platform, Sylvester Okoh, urged more HCDTs to join the platform to foster collaboration and strengthen the new development framework for oil-bearing communities.

“We’ve been bringing the leadership of the various Delta HCDTs together, sharing experiences, and addressing issues of concern. The HCDTs are at a point where the General Memorandum of Understanding stopped, but because the HCDTs are now backed by law, there are clear directives that will ensure better outcomes for our communities,” Okoh said.

Pender Agwarive, BOT Chairman of Uherevie HCDT and a member of the Bridges Project’s Multi-Stakeholder Platform, highlighted the importance of the awareness drive.

“For years, our communities have heard about the PIA but didn’t really understand how it affects us. What PIND is doing here gives us clarity. Now we know the questions to ask and how to actively participate so our communities truly benefit from this law,” he stated.

Strengthening Transparency and Capacity

PIND’s PIA Consultant, Rachael Misan-Ruppee, noted that awareness campaigns across the five project states — Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Ondo — have already enhanced communities’ capacity to manage development projects effectively.

“We are confident that communities are now better equipped to implement and manage development projects. We want to see active and responsible HCDT managers,” she said.

The National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, Sheriff Mulade, emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in managing HCDT resources, describing them as essential to the scheme’s long-term success.

Stella Ejeh, a native of Olomoro community in Isoko South Local Government Area, expressed optimism about the renewed push for local development.

“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,” she said.

Hope for a New Era of Inclusive Growth

Other Board of Trustees leaders — including Mrs. Bayai Ekomieyefa (Chairperson, Ogulagha Tora-Abade HCDT), Ademola Doris (Acting Chairperson, Warri Kingdom Coastal HCDT), and Satu Peters (Chairman, Ogulagha-Ibe Agbonu HCDT) — also commended the initiative, describing it as a vital step toward transparency, collaboration, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.

With greater understanding and engagement, stakeholders say the PIA could finally deliver on its promise of community-driven growth, peace, and prosperity across oil-producing regions.