Stakeholders Chart Way Forward for Sustainable Host Community Development in Niger Delta
A dialogue forum organized by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and the Ford Foundation has outlined the path forward for sustainable host community development in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. The event brought together over 150 participants, including government representatives, regulators, and community leaders, to reflect on lessons from four years of implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and its Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) provisions.
The PIA’s HCDTs are designed to ensure that host communities directly benefit from extractive activities. The forum, which marked the conclusion of the Bridges Project, aimed to consolidate lessons from the project for future implementation. According to Sam Ogbemi Daibo, Executive Director of PIND Foundation, the success of the PIA and HCDT model depends on collaboration, trust, and shared accountability.
The Bridges Project has shown improved awareness of PIA provisions, strengthened stakeholder collaboration, and the establishment of new models for participatory governance. The project’s status report highlighted these achievements, providing a roadmap for future implementation. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) noted that the project has fostered dialogue and evidence-based engagement, strengthening transparency and accountability in the implementation of the PIA.
The Host Community Development Trust framework is already yielding visible results across the Niger Delta, including infrastructure and human capital projects, renewed community trust, and stability. The NUPRC is committed to ensuring that the HCDT structure continues to serve as a credible mechanism for sustainable development, peacebuilding, and shared prosperity in host communities.
Stakeholders emphasized the importance of shared accountability, trust, and continuous learning in the success of HCDT implementation. PIND and the Ford Foundation reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the gains of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform, supporting capacity building for HCDTs, and advancing a future where peace and prosperity in the Niger Delta are community-owned and sustained.
The forum’s outcome is significant, as it paves the way for sustainable host community development in the Niger Delta. With the lessons learned from the Bridges Project, stakeholders are better equipped to strengthen partnerships, deepen community engagement, and sustain the gains of host community development. The next steps will involve implementing these lessons and continuing to foster dialogue and collaboration among regulators, settlors, and host communities.