Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Photo: NMDPRA
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has intensified efforts to enforce the Host Community Development Trust framework under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, ordering operators and licensees in the sector to comply with the mandatory three per cent annual contribution to host community funds, with the introduction of a digital portal aimed at improving transparency and accountability.
The NMDPRA disclosed this recently during a Stakeholder Sensitisation Workshop on the implementation of the HCDT framework and the operationalisation of the HCDT Digital Portal held in Port Harcourt.
The Host Communities Development Trust is a framework mandated by Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act 2021 to ensure direct social, environmental, and economic benefits for petroleum-producing areas. The fund is designed to address the development needs of impacted communities in oil-producing areas.
Speaking on behalf of the Authority Chief Executive, Mr Rabiu Umar, the Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Dr Mustapha Lamorde, said the newly introduced portal would facilitate digital registration of trusts, project tracking, compliance reporting, monitoring of statutory contributions, and real-time regulatory oversight.
