Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta in collaboration with Ford Foundation on Tuesday organised a capacity-building programme of the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act for representatives of host communities drawn from five oil-producing states in the Niger Delta.
The week-long training, which was held in Warri, Delta State, was aimed at restructuring the management of the host communities and regulating the midstream and downstream operations. Participants in the capacity building programme were drawn from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers and Ondo States.
Addressing the delegation, the Executive Director of PIND, Mr Tunji Idowu, who was represented by the Advocacy Manager, Chuks Ofulue, noted with delight the execution of the PIA since it was signed into law on August 16, 2021, in the efforts to establish good governance, best practices and ease of doing business in the oil and gas sector.
He stated, “In restructuring the management of the host communities, Chapter 3 of the PIA mandates the creation of the host Communities Development Trust to improve the quality of life of the host communities’ population and improve accountability in the management of the HCDT Fund.”
He explained that the project activities included creating awareness and deepening knowledge of the PIA’s technical components among community stakeholders.
While calling for accountability from the various Host Communities Development Trusts, Idowu insisted that one of the gains expected from the PIA “is sustainable community development, manifested by the requirement for participatory needs assessment and community development plans to deliver sustainable growth.”
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