Some stakeholders in the Niger Delta region have called for stronger monitoring and accountability mechanisms in the implementation of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), saying sustained oversight is critical to ensuring that oil-producing communities benefit from the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

They made the call at a one-day Town Hall Meeting on “Maximising the Benefits of Host Community Development Trusts in Host Communities in the Niger Delta” yesterday.
 
In her address, the Country Director of Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), Mrs Florence Ibok-Abasi, said the HCDT framework has recorded notable successes in some communities but requires greater transparency and stakeholder engagement to achieve its full potential.
 
“The HCDT is a very unique model. We have observed significant gains in some states, and some of the projects are remarkable. However, what is extremely important is to have a monitoring process,” she said, noting that civil society groups are supporting accountability rather than witch-hunting stakeholders.
 
She also warned that Nigeria’s energy transition makes it imperative for host communities to maximise the opportunities offered by the trust funds, as future oil revenues may decline.
 
The town hall, which brought together members of the National Assembly, officials of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), oil companies, trust administrators, community representatives, and civil society organisations, was to assess the implementation of the HCDT framework.
 
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Dumnamene Dekor, expressed concern over the slow pace of implementation despite the funding of about 140 trusts across the Niger Delta.
 
“About 140 Trusts have been funded, either fully or partly, but are we having that impact in these communities? The answer is no,” Dekor said, attributing the situation to leadership disputes, internal conflicts, and prolonged litigation within some host communities.
 
He warned that the committee would intensify its oversight from July 2026 and compel trust administrators to explain how funds are being managed, stressing that the National Assembly would deploy all available legislative measures to ensure compliance.