The federal government Thursday assured of its readiness to always ensure an all-round development of oil-producing host communities in the country as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Head, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Warri Regional Office, Mr Olusegun Benjamin Ogunnubi, gave the assurance in a statement made available to journalists.
Mr Ogunnubi in the statement stressed that the Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDT) created by the Petroleum Industry Act, gave the commission the statutory obligation of ensuring the settlors fund it for the concerned communities.
“Through the Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDT), the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) will continue to ensure compliance from the settlors as regards their statutory responsibilities towards the concerned communities together in which 3% of their operating expenditure will be used to develop the communities,” he assured.
The NUPRC Regional Head maintained that if the concerned communities could not form a Trust Fund, the bulk of the funds would be used to develop projects defined by the communities.
Commending stakeholders and communities in the state for their cooperation with the commission, Mr Ogunnubi called for more support from the people of Ugborodo community and that the smooth-running of escravos operations must be ensured.
During a visit to his palace by the Head Warri Regional Office NUPRC and his team earlier in his palace, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III assured of his readiness to always rally round the leadership of the NUPRC as led by the Chief Commission Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe.
The Olu of Warri called for transparency in their engagements with the people, stakeholders and the host communities, said he was optimistic that the NUPRC Warri Regional Office would succeed in it assignment.
The monarch urged the Commission to organise an enlarged parley of relevant stakeholders and the host communities for felt-needs assessment for the betterment of all.
