NUPRC Tasks Oil/Gas Host Communities Not To Truncate The Aim Of PIA.

  

The Bayelsa State Representative of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Ogunnubi Olusegun has advised stakeholders from  the Oil  and Gas producing communities not to truncate the setting up of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund provided for by the Petroleum Industry Act. 

Speaking recently in Yenagoa during a stakeholder’s meeting for the host communities, the NUPRC representative disclosed that the essence of the meeting was to sensitize them on the gains of the petroleum industry act.

 Recall that chapter three of the Petroleum Industry Act provides a legal framework to ensure cordial relations between International Oil Companies and their host communities. It also sets up a development roadmap in oil communities.

Olusegun said “The thrust of the meeting was to sensitize the communities on chapter three of the Petroleum Industry Act, which dwells on the local governance structure to manage the 3% fund approved for host communities in the PIA.

“NUPRC with its best global practices in conjunction with relevant stakeholders has developed robust implementation strategies to positively curb restiveness among the host communities. 

 “The whole essence is to ensure that there is peace in the hos communities because if there is unrest, it will impact negatively on the activities of oil exploration.  The whole essence is for you people to know your roles and to know that the 3% will come. 

Also speaking, one of the resource persons, Francis Osogolo  said that some oil producing communities  in Bayelsa State want an amendment  of the Petroleum Industry Act to address issues of local employment, inclusiveness as well as increment in the current 3% set aside for the development of host communities.

 He said Will agitations will always be there? Yes agitations will always be three but what the commission is doing is to reduce it to the barest minimum.  Will this act change anything? Yes, less than three years, it is a work progress. 

One of the participants His  Royal Highness, Theophilus  Kenibara disclosed that the host communities should be looking at pressurizing the relevant stakeholders to increase the host community fund from 3% to 15% stating that even the oil companies were not employing the locals.

 

He said “We should be looking at increasing the funding from 3% to 155. That should be the agitation. Most of the IOCs are even reneging from employing our youths.

“PIA does not address unemployment opportunities. We should be looking at employment and local contrast because the people that own the wealth must be empowered.

  Another participant, Michael Ikisa admitted that he has learnt a lot form the workshop stating that with what was taught them, they are heading to somewhere.

Topics delivered at the workshop touched on how the three percent fund for host communities could be used to promote development, guarding against vandalism of oil infrastructure and challenges of  implementing the host community development section of the PIA while participants were drawn from various oil communities  and cluster boards in Bayelsa state.

Despite teething challenges experienced presently, participants at the forum agree that the PIA deserved to be given a try.

Participants wweredrawn from the varous oil development communities in bayelsa state. and cluster boards.

 The oil producing communities in bayelsa state  the bayeksa state reoperesenative of the Nigerian upstream pretoluem regularorty commission explains the rationale beihnfd the s