The Federal Government said the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), is expected to bring development, peace and stability to oil-producing communities.

The Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Rabiu Umar, made the remark during a stakeholders’ meeting yesterday in Port Harcourt.

The event titled “Stakeholders Sensitisation Workshop on the Implementation of the HCDT Framework and Operationalisation of the HCDT Digital Portal,” brought together regulators, oil firms, community leaders and other stakeholders.

Represented by Dr Mustapha Lamorde,  the Authority’s Executive Director for HSEC, Umar said the workshop was aimed at helping stakeholders to better understand how the trust system would work.

According to him, the PIA changed how oil companies relate with host communities by making them direct beneficiaries of development projects.

“The goal is to promote peace, reduce conflict, encourage inclusion and ensure steady development in affected communities,” he said.

He added that since the regulations were introduced, the agency had received many questions from communities, traditional rulers, civil society groups, lawmakers, operators and development partners.

Umar stressed that the success of the scheme depended on trust, transparency and cooperation among all parties.

“This workshop is organised to provide clarity on how the HCDT will be set up, duties of trustees, operators’ and licensees’ obligations, and how the funds will be managed, among others,” he stated.

The NMDPRA boss also unveiled the HCDT Digital Portal, describing it as part of efforts to improve transparency and accountability. He said that the portal would handle trust registration, document submission, contribution tracking, compliance reporting, and project monitoring.

Umar urged communities to support the scheme aimed at improving livelihoods and creating opportunities for future generations.