By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Head, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),Warri Regional Office, Mr
Olusegun Benjamin Ogunnubi, yesterday, said the Federal Government is ready to always ensure an all-round development of oil-producing host communities in the country as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Mr Ogunnubi who gave the assurance in a statement, noted that the Host Community Development Trust fund(HCDT) created by the Petroleum Industry Act, gave the Commission the statutory obligation of ensuring the settlors, fund for the concerned communities.
According to Head, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),Warri Regional Office, ” Through the Host Community Development Trust fund(HCDT),Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), will continue to ensure compliance from the settlors as regards their statutory responsibilities towards the concerned communities together in which 3% of their operating expenditure will be used to develop the communities” .
The NUPRC Regional Head maintained that if the concerned communities could not form a Trust Fund, the bulk of the funds would be used to develop projects defined by the communities.
While lauding stakeholders and communities in the state for their cooperation with the commission, Mr Ogunnubi solicited for more support from the people of Ugborodo community and that the smooth-running of escravos operations must be ensured.
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse while receiving the Head Warri Regional Office NUPRC and his team assured of his readiness to always rally round the leadership of the NUPRC as led by the Chief Commission Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe .
The Olu of Warri while urging the leadership of NUPRC to see to the plight of the host communities called for transparency in their engagements with the people, stakeholders and the host communities,said he was optimistic that the NUPRC Warri Regional Office would succeed in it assignment.
He then tasked the Commission to organize an enlarged parley of relevant stakeholders and the host communities for felt-needs assessment for the betterment of all.
Members of Ogunnubi’s entourage include Dr David Michaels, Mr Tom Senibo, Head of Development, Dr Muhammed laminga,Head of Gas Production, Mr Nri Tobechi, Manager Environment and Community, Mrs Akpojisheri Head of Public Affairs Unit amongst others.
