PIA: Delta govt assures host communities of protection

The Delta State government has pledged to continue to promote peace and a harmonious work environment between host communities and oil companies operating in the state.

The state deputy governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, made the pledge at a sensitisation workshop on the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 organised by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), in collaboration with Mecco and Marine Holdings Limited for host communities held in Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state.

While throwing its weight behind the full implementation of agreements between host communities and oil companies in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the deputy governor insisted that the state government will not tolerate any attempt to shortchange communities.

Sir Onyeme, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Sir Christopher Osakwe encouraged host communities to endeavour to secure oil companies’ facilities in their area to guarantee their entitlement to the three percent fund as spelt out in the PIA Act 2021.

Addressing participants at the sensitisation exercise, the Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, said the enactment of the PIA 2021 and the subsequent regulation of the petroleum industry marked a turning point in the effort to achieve sustainable development of host communities.

Komolafe, who was represented by Mr. Akpotowho Kennedy, noted that NUPRC, recognised the pivotal role of host communities in the Nigeria oil and gas sector, acknowledging that   resources from host communities had enormously contributed to the nation’s economic growth, hence the need for them to be adequately sensitised on the importance of chapter three of the PIA.

In his remarks, the consultant to NUPRC and Chief Executive Officer of Mecco and Marine Holdings Limited, Chief George Bucknor, said the purpose of the workshop was to sensitise host communities in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of their social benefits as enshrined in sections 234 and 240 as opposed to section 257 subsection 2 of the PIA.

Chief Bucknor explained that the sensitisation was also to facilitate compliance with the provisions of Chapter 3 of the PIA and provide timely and accurate information to the commission regarding non-compliance by the host community development trustees or settlers within the applicable laws, among several other objectives. 

Traditional rulers, including the Obi of Aboh, His Imperial Majesty, Gregory Nnamdi Oputa III, and others from host communities in Ndokwa East, commended the initiative and promised to ensure that they safeguard oil facilities in their domain.

There were talks on the importance of the stakeholders’ engagement regarding the petroleum community’s direct social benefits by Mr. Chris Agina of Mecco and Marine Holdings Limited, as well as interactive sessions by participants.

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