The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to educating host communities and settlers on their rights, duties, and liabilities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). This assurance was given by the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Barrister Anthony Ifeanya, during the closing session of a two-day Town Hall Meeting in Awka, focused on the implementation of the host community provisions in the PIA.
The event, organized by the Anambra State Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), attracted participants from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), host communities, relevant ministries and agencies, academia, and other stakeholders.
In his remarks, Barrister Ifeanya urged host communities and their settlers to prioritize peace, dialogue, and negotiation to prevent violent conflicts. He emphasized that the Anambra State Government will continue to enlighten these communities on the PIA to prevent them from resorting to unlawful actions.
Referring to penalties outlined in the PIA for the deliberate destruction of oil company facilities, Barrister Ifeanya warned that any community involved in such acts would face severe consequences. He explained that the community’s three percent operating cost might be used to cover the damages, and if the cost exceeds their capacity, they could be forced to make significant sacrifices.
The Commissioner also highlighted the success of the meeting, noting that participants left with enhanced knowledge. He revealed that the assembly also exposed a false claim by Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) regarding the funding of its host communities’ trust funds with their three percent operating costs.
Mr. Monday Osasah, Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development, described the meeting as participatory and noted that key outcomes provided clarity on the operationalization of the Host Community Development Trust. He urged traditional rulers, as custodians of customs and traditions, to disseminate the knowledge gained to their people and avoid actions that could incite crises.
Mr. Osasah also commended the Anambra State Government for its support and encouraged the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to build strategic alliances, engage with more donors, and involve civil society organizations to facilitate continuous learning and review within communities.
Addressing the false claim by SEEPCO, the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, represented by Dr. Benjamin Okpa, Head of Health Safety Environment and Community at NUPRC Owerri, condemned the deceptive act and assured that both SEEPCO and its host communities would be summoned to their Abuja office for a peaceful resolution.
The Town Hall Meeting featured group discussions, presentations on specific aspects of the host community provisions needing review, panel discussions on the establishment and management of the Trust, and an interactive session for questions, comments, and suggestions.
