Rivers’ oil-producing communities, scarred by decades of environmental ruin and economic neglect, are once again sounding the alarm. The Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, was meant to be a lifeline.
It mandates international oil companies (IOCs) to channel 3% of their operating costs into community-driven projects for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and environmental restoration. Yet, as of October 2025, many IOCs have dragged their feet, leaving communities like those in the Niger Delta simmering with frustration.
The recent inauguration of seven projects by Total Energies at the Obagi Oilfield HCDT in Rivers State on October 10, 2025, offers a glimpse of what’s possible. These initiatives, covering healthcare, agriculture, and livelihoods, reflect community priorities, as Total’s Managing Director Matthieu Bouyer noted, with 539 projects approved across 64 communities.
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But this is a drop in the ocean. Mike Emuh, head of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, rightly calls out IOCs for undermining the HCDT’s promise. The trusts, meant to empower locals through autonomous boards, often treat communities as passive recipients, not partners. This disconnect breeds mismanagement and abandoned projects.
The Senate Committee on Host Communities, led by Benson Agadaga, has pushed the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to sanction non-compliant IOCs, a move I support. The Niger Delta’s relative calm since the PIA’s passage is fragile, and firms ignoring their obligations risk reigniting unrest.
The 1995 execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists remains a stark reminder of what happens when grievances fester. Oil spills and gas flares continue to choke communities, demanding accountability akin to the $62 billion fine BP faced after the 2010 Gulf spill.
IOCs often tout cash handouts or scattered projects as proof of commitment, but this falls short. True progress hinges on empowering communities to oversee trusts with transparency and rigor. The government must enforce compliance, ensuring IOCs collaborate with locals to deliver sustainable development. Only then can Nigeria break the cycle of exploitation and build lasting peace in its oil-rich heartlands.
