The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON) has appealed to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase the resources allocated to oil-producing communities.

The group, led by its Chairman, Michael Emuh, was at the headquarters of the commission to submit a set of requests that it hoped, if implemented, would better the lives of the people.

Speaking during the visit, Emuh said that despite the fact that their communities provide the bulk of the resources in the country, they are often marginalised.

While expressing his appreciation for the warm reception by the Commission, he described the engagement as “a new dawn for the long-neglected communities that lay the golden egg”.

The Chairman of RMAFC, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, assured the communities of the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that host communities in Nigeria’s oil and gas-producing areas receive fair and transparent benefits in line with constitutional provisions.

Shehu commended HOSCON for its peaceful and consultative approach toward addressing issues of resource allocation and environmental justice in oil-producing areas.

He emphasised that, “Without the peace and cooperation of the host communities, the exploration and production of oil and gas in Nigeria would not be possible.”

The Chairman assured the delegation that the Commission would study their detailed position paper and engage other relevant stakeholders to develop a sustainable framework that would guarantee transparency and fairness in the disbursement and utilisation of the 13 per cent derivation fund.

“The issue involves a delicate balance between constitutional provisions, judicial interpretations and state-level management,” he added.