The Niger Delta Citizens Alliance, NDCA, has called on oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to remain committed to their statutory obligations under the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, particularly the three percent annual contribution to the Host Community Development Trust Fund.
The NDCA stated that sustained compliance by operators would ensure the continuity of critical infrastructure projects, strengthen trust with host communities, and consolidate the gains already achieved under the supervision of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.
The group also commended the NUPRC for improving the welfare of host communities across the oil-producing region over the past four years.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Port Harcourt and jointly signed by its President, Kingsley Charles, and Secretary-General, Ogbobetta Nelli, the group said the Commission, under the leadership of Gbenga Komolafe, has redefined resource justice through the transparent implementation of the Host Community Development Trusts, HCDTs.
The statement added, “For decades, oil-producing communities were left with promises that never translated into tangible progress. But since the creation of NUPRC in 2021, and under Engr. Komolafe’s stewardship, we have witnessed a genuine transformation.
“The Host Community Development Trust has restored hope by ensuring that oil wealth is finally reaching the people,”the statement reads.
The group commended the Commission’s oversight of the N373 billion Host Community Development Fund and the more than 500 ongoing projects across the Niger Delta, describing it as “the most inclusive community intervention in the nation’s oil history.”
“These projects are not political billboards, they are real. From hospitals and schools in Rivers and Bayelsa to water projects and skill centres in Delta and Akwa Ibom, the impact is visible.
“NUPRC has bridged the gap between communities and corporations, replacing years of conflict with structured collaboration and accountability,” the group observed.
According to the NDCA, the NUPRC’s digital HostComply dashboard has ensured transparent tracking of community funds, preventing diversion and guaranteeing that every naira is linked to measurable outcomes.
It also applauded the Commission’s insistence that project execution must prioritize local labour and suppliers, thereby creating thousands of jobs for young people in host communities, saying, “This model of development is what the Niger Delta has always demanded; a process where the people are participants, not spectators.
“The success of the Host Community Trust is a testament to what visionary leadership can achieve when transparency meets compassion.”
It reiterated that sustained compliance would ensure the continuity of vital infrastructure projects, strengthen community relations, and consolidate the progress achieved under NUPRC’s leadership.
