The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has introduced a digital portal to strengthen transparency, accountability and oversight in the implementation of the Host Community Development Trust framework under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
The Authority disclosed this on Wednesday at a Stakeholder Sensitisation Workshop on the implementation of the HCDT framework and the operationalisation of the HCDT Digital Portal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Speaking on behalf of the Authority Chief Executive, Mr Rabiu Umar, the Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Dr Mustapha Lamorde, said the portal would enable digital registration of trusts, project tracking, compliance reporting, monitoring of statutory contributions and real-time regulatory oversight.
Lamorde said the workshop was convened to provide clarity on the establishment and administration of Host Community Development Trusts as expectations grow for the framework to move from policy to practical implementation.
According to him, the engagement also provided guidance on the governance responsibilities of trustees and management committees, the obligations of operators and licensees, administration of the trust fund, compliance and reporting requirements, and grievance resolution mechanisms under the regulations.
He urged operators to comply with the mandatory three per cent annual contribution requirement to support sustainable development in host communities.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, commended the NMDPRA for convening the forum.
Dekor said midstream operations, including pipelines, depots, terminals, processing facilities and transportation infrastructure, are critical to Nigeria’s energy security and must deliver practical benefits to host communities.
He also urged host communities to embrace unity, accountability and constructive engagement while protecting petroleum facilities within their areas.
The Director, Environmental Sustainability and Host Community at NMDPRA, Mrs Anne Omezi, said the engagement would promote transparency, collaboration and sustainable development in the midstream segment of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
“We are here to build bridges of understanding, foster collaboration and establish a shared vision for community development. I encourage everyone to actively participate and share ideas that will deliver lasting benefits to host communities within the midstream segment of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,” she said.
A host community representative in Rivers State, Chief Barry Mwara, said the sensitisation programme had provided useful knowledge that would help communities better position themselves to benefit from midstream petroleum activities.
“I will go back with this information so we can further strategise on how to benefit from midstream activities in our communities,” he said.
Mwara urged the Authority to strengthen supervision of the framework to ensure that funds are properly managed and used for their intended purpose.
