Stakeholders in Rivers State are taking steps to prevent leadership disputes and improve transparency in the management of funds allocated to oil-producing communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The stakeholders made the commitment during the inauguration of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholder Platform under the Connect Project, supported by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).

Chairman of the platform and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Rivers 3 Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), Kyrian Nwobodo, said the platform would address leadership transitions in the trusts and delays or challenges associated with the release of funds by oil companies.

“Most of the executives of the HCDT will expire by next year, and to avoid litigation and community crisis, we are looking at a situation where we will handle that so that there will be a seamless handover,” Nwobodo said.

He added that the platform would also examine issues surrounding transparency and the release of funds by oil companies, known as settlors, to host communities to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.

Nwobodo said the Connect Project was designed to sustain the leadership, accountability and transparency principles promoted under PIND’s earlier Bridges Project, ensuring that the three per cent of relevant operating expenditure provided for host communities under the PIA benefits the people.

PIND’s Analysis and Advocacy Manager, Chuks Ofulue, said the platform would provide an avenue for stakeholders to share experiences, identify challenges and develop solutions to improve the implementation of the law, which came into force in 2021.

“The idea is to gather, through dialogue, the different perspectives of these stakeholders and their contribution towards improving the implementation process,” Ofulue said.

PIA consultant to PIND, Dr Rachel Missan-Rupee, said the platform would also promote environmentally sustainable community development by incorporating climate change considerations into needs assessments, community development plans and project implementation. (The Guardian)