The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) pushes forward with the full rollout of the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The Authority introduces a new digital portal to enhance transparency and accountability in community projects.NMDPRA disclosed this during a stakeholder sensitisation workshop held on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The event focused on practical implementation of the HCDT framework and operationalisation of the digital platform.
Dr Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community, spoke on behalf of the Authority Chief Executive, Mr Rabiu Umar.
He explained that the portal enables digital registration of Trusts, real-time project tracking, compliance reporting, monitoring of contributions, and regulatory oversight.Lamorde stressed the need for operators to meet the mandatory three percent annual contribution to support sustainable development in host communities.
The workshop provided clear guidance on Trust establishment, governance roles for trustees and management committees, operator obligations, fund administration, reporting requirements, and grievance mechanisms.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, praised NMDPRA for the initiative.
He highlighted the critical role of midstream infrastructure such as pipelines, depots, terminals, and processing facilities in Nigeria’s energy security.
Dekor called on host communities to promote unity, accountability, and protection of petroleum assets.Director of Environmental Sustainability and Host Community at NMDPRA, Mrs Anne Omezi, said the engagement aims to build collaboration and ensure host communities gain greater benefits from the oil and gas sector.
A community representative, Chief Barry Mwara, described the workshop as valuable. He said participants now have better knowledge to engage midstream operations effectively and urged stronger supervision to guarantee proper use of the funds.
The initiative marks a significant step toward turning HCDT policy into tangible benefits for communities affected by midstream petroleum activities
