By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

The Initiative for Africa Society Inclusion and Diversity has called on oil companies operating in Akwa Ibom State to prioritize the development of their host communities as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

Speaking during a one-day town hall meeting held in Uyo, the Executive Director of the group, Olayinka Akeredolu-Martins, criticized the failure of some oil companies to establish Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) as required by law.

“It is unacceptable that community development plans are now treated as secret documents by some oil companies. Many communities are denied access to these plans, and in some cases, the content is altered,” Akeredolu-Martins stated.

She also decried the tokenism that some companies offer in place of meaningful development initiatives. “Some host communities are given motorcycles as development projects or bursaries of ₦100,000 instead of scholarships for deserving students. This is far from what is expected under the PIA.”

Akeredolu-Martins emphasized the need for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the proper implementation of HCDTs.

“We must work together as equal partners to ensure that the Host Community Development Trust is implemented in a fair, equitable, and beneficial manner for all stakeholders. This requires commitment, creativity, and proactive engagement to find solutions that work for everyone,” she added.

The meeting brought together representatives from host communities, government agencies, and civil society organizations, who expressed frustration over the lack of enforcement of PIA provisions.

Stakeholders questioned why oil companies that fail to establish HCDTs or comply with PIA requirements are not sanctioned. They stressed the importance of addressing these lapses to ensure effective implementation of development plans in Akwa Ibom State.

The call for prioritizing host community development echoes growing concerns over the need for transparency, fairness, and accountability in the relationship between oil companies and their host communities.