A coalition of civil society organisations under the umbrella of the Niger Delta Advancement Forum (NDAF) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, for what it described as the “most transparent and impactful community development initiative” in the history of Nigeria’s oil industry.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group’s President, Comrade Ebiowei Timipre, said the completion of 536 community projects across oil-producing states through the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) signalled “a turning point in the Niger Delta’s long quest for justice, inclusion, and equitable development.”
Timipre praised President Tinubu’s administration for demonstrating “unprecedented political will” by empowering the NUPRC to fully implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which had previously suffered years of delay.
“For decades, oil-bearing communities endured unfulfilled promises and abandoned projects,” he said. “But under President Tinubu, we are witnessing a transformation. Through the visionary leadership of Engr. Komolafe, the NUPRC has ensured that the Niger Delta’s oil wealth is now being channelled into schools, hospitals, roads, and livelihoods for our people.”
According to the NDAF, records from the Commission show that as of October 13, 2025, contributions by oil companies to the Host Community Development Trust Fund had reached ₦373 billion. The group described the milestone as “a historic leap in fiscal accountability” and a testament to the success of Tinubu’s reform-driven governance.
The forum also lauded the Commission’s HostComply digital dashboard — a transparency tool that tracks all deposits and disbursements to host community funds — which it said had brought an end to the opacity that once characterised oil-sector interventions.
Particular reference was made to projects executed in Rivers State, where the NUPRC recently facilitated the completion of ten projects and launched another ten under the Obagi HCDT operated by TotalEnergies. The developments include hospitals, schools, and rural roads benefiting local communities.
Timipre described the achievements as “clear evidence that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering tangible results,” adding that “the partnership between the Presidency and the NUPRC has given new meaning to resource justice in the Niger Delta.”
He urged oil companies to continue to comply with the PIA requirement mandating a three per cent contribution from their operating expenditure to host community development, assuring them that the current administration had restored credibility and transparency to the system.
“For once, the Niger Delta is witnessing the true dividends of oil,” Timipre stated. “What past governments failed to achieve in decades is now being delivered under President Tinubu. We remain deeply grateful and confident that this transformation will endure.”
