Host Communities of Nigeria Oil and Gas Producing areas (HOSTCOM) have demanded 50 per cent of oil blocs awarded in the Niger Delta region.

A report this morning in The Guardian said the demand was voiced during the weekend by Festus Pemu, chairman of Urhobo ethnic nationality chapter of HOSTCOM.

Festus Pemu also asked multinational oil companies to relocate to their operating communities as demanded by the local content law, the report said.

It quoted Pemu as saying: “At present no oil bloc is owned by an indigene of oil producing communities. This is unfair and needs to be corrected.”

He also called for the immediate approval of pipeline surveillance jobs to the host communities, as they are most suited to do it effectively, the report said.

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