The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has stepped up its implementation of the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) framework with the launch of a new digital portal designed to enhance transparency and accountability.
The initiative, established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, was officially unveiled on Wednesday during a stakeholder sensitization workshop in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Streamlining Compliance through Digitalization
Speaking on behalf of Authority Chief Executive Mr. Rabiu Umar, the Executive Director for Health, Safety, Environment, and Community (HSEC), Dr. Mustapha Lamorde, explained that the new digital portal will serve as a centralized hub for regulatory oversight.
According to him, the platform is built to handle digital registration of community trusts, real-time project tracking and compliance reporting and monitoring of statutory financial contributions.
Lamorde said the workshop was organised to provide clarity on the establishment of Host Community Development Trusts.
He added that the forum offered vital guidance on the governance duties of trustees, operator obligations, fund administration, and grievance resolution mechanisms.
He also urged oil and gas operators to strictly comply with their mandatory 3 per cent annual contribution to guarantee sustainable development for their host communities.
Protecting Infrastructure and Ensuring Mutual Benefits
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, hailed NMDPRA for organising the sensitisation forum.
He noted that midstream operations—including pipelines, depots, terminals, processing facilities, and transportation infrastructure—are vital to Nigeria’s energy security, insisting that host communities must derive tangible and lasting benefits from these activities.
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He also called on host communities to embrace unity, accountability, and constructive engagement while protecting petroleum infrastructure within their areas.
Similarly, the Director of Environmental Sustainability and Host Community at NMDPRA, Mrs. Anne Omezi, stated that the stakeholder engagement on operationalizing the HCDT framework would promote transparency, collaboration, and sustainable development, ensuring host communities gain greater benefits from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“We are here to build bridges of understanding, foster collaboration, and establish a shared vision for community development,” she said. “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.”
In a reaction from the community, Chief Barry Mwara, representing one of the host communities in Rivers State, described the sensitisation programme as highly informative, providing valuable knowledge to help chart a brighter future for his people.
“I will go back with this information so we can further strategize on how to benefit from midstream activities in our communities,” he said.
He, however, urged the NMDPRA to strengthen its supervisory role to ensure the fund is properly managed and used for its intended purpose.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X