Niger Delta oil-producing communities have said they are fully determined to exploit the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to ensure rapid and sustainable development of the region.

Stakeholders from the region declared this on Thursday in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

They spoke at an event, tagged ?the Bridges Project Roadshow/Townhall Series?.

The one-day event focused on building awareness and capacity for the effective implementation of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs).

It was organised by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), a Non-Governmental organisation (NGO).

The roadshow brought together a wide range of participants, including oil/gas operators representatives, regulators, civil society organisations and community leaders to deepen stakeholders? understanding of the HCDT registration process and ensure the equitable distribution of oil industry resources to host communities.

The Bridges Project was aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the implementation of the PIA, which had provided allocation of three per cent of oil companies? operational expenditure for the development of host communities.

Speaking at the launch, Chuks Ofulue, PIND?s advocacy manager, stressed that awareness is key to unlocking the full benefits of the Act.

?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,? Ofulue said.

Recall that the PIA was signed into law in 202 introduced far-reaching reforms to Nigeria?s oil and gas sector, including the establishment of HCDTs to drive community-led development.

However, many host communities had remained unfamiliar with how the trusts work or how they can actively engage.

Reiterating PIND?s vision, Ofulue added that the PIA was not just a law but 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,? he added.

The awareness drive combines roadshows, town hall meetings, and media outreach to reach thousands of stakeholders.

Local leaders described the initiative as both timely and transformative.

Sylvester Okoh, Chairman, Delta State Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP), called on more HCDTs to join the platfo?m for a collaborative approach to the new development framework for the 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 (GMoU) 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 member of the Bridges Project?s Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP), said, ?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 we can actively participate so our communities truly benefit from this law,?.

The campaign also spotlighted the Bridges Project?s MSP model, which fosters dialogue, collaboration, and sustainability in host community projects.

Rachael Misan-Ruppee, PIND?s PIA Consultant, said with the awareness so far created across the five project states ? Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Ondo.

?We are confident that communities are now better equipped to implement and manage development projects. We want to see active and responsible HCDT managers,? Missan-Ruppee said.

Sheriff Mulade, National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, emphasised the importance of transparent governance in managing resources derived from the HCDTs.

?The key to the success of HCDTs is accountability. This is the only way we can ensure that projects truly benefit our communities,? he said.

Stella Ejeh from the Olomoro community in Isoko south LGA, said the townhall offers renewed hope for tangible 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.

Board of Trustees leaders of HCDTs such as 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 expressed appreciation for the programme.

Ademola Doris, acting chairman of the Warri Kingdom Coastal HCDT, highlighted the value of the experience.

?This has been a time well spent. We have gained valuable insights into the PIA, from the registration process to the project execution stages. We are now better positioned to address any gaps and improve where necessary.? She said.

Misan-Ruppee concluded the workshop with a reaffirmation of the project?s goals.

?The Bridges Project has laid a solid foundation, but we are just getting started. Our goal is to see the full operationalisation of HCDTs, with stakeholders working together in concerted efforts to ensure that the Niger Delta fully benefits from the Petroleum Industry Act,? she said.

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