As part of efforts to deepen transparency, accountability, and regulatory efficiency in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it has developed a dedicated Host Community Development Trusts (HCDT) Digital Portal.
The Authority Chief Executive (ACE), Mr. Rabiu Umar, disclosed this on Thursday during a stakeholder sensitisation workshop on the operationalisation of the Midstream Host Community Development Trusts, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Umar, who was represented by Dr. Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, said the platform is designed to support digital registration of trusts, submission of governance documentation, monitoring of statutory contributions, compliance reporting, project tracking, and real-time regulatory oversight.
He described the initiative as a major milestone in the Authority’s digital transformation agenda.
According to him, It will help standardise implementation nationwide, reduce disputes arising from information gaps, improve monitoring capabilities, and strengthen confidence among communities and operators alike.
Umar added that the portal would also enhance transparency in the administration and utilisation of Host Community Development Trust funds.
He noted that the workshop was aimed at deepening understanding of how Host Community Development Trusts are established, including governance responsibilities of trustees and management committees, obligations of operators and licensees, administration of trust funds, compliance and reporting requirements, and grievance resolution mechanisms under the regulations.
The Authority Chief expressed satisfaction with the turnout, describing the engagement as a key step in implementing one of the most transformative provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which provides the framework for sustainable host community development.
He said the PIA was designed to ensure that communities impacted by petroleum operations become structured beneficiaries of social and economic development.
Umar further stated that the Act has helped promote peaceful coexistence, shared prosperity, inclusion, reduced conflict, and improved stability within host communities.
He stressed that the HCDT framework goes beyond community development, describing it as central to national stability, investment confidence, and the long-term sustainability of the petroleum sector.
He assured that the Authority remains committed to ensuring full implementation of the PIA for the benefit of all stakeholders.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, commended NMDPRA for the forum, describing it as an important platform for educating stakeholders on the implementation of host community provisions under Sections 234 to 257 of the PIA.
Dekor said the engagement was necessary because it brought together midstream operators and host communities, the two key groups at the centre of the framework.
According to him, operators require clarity on their statutory obligations, while host communities must understand their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities under the Act.
He urged operators to view the Trust framework not only as a compliance requirement but as an investment in stability and long-term sustainability, noting that cooperation from communities reduces disruptions and improves operations.
He also called on host communities to embrace unity, accountability, and responsible participation to ensure that benefits of the Trust are widely shared.
Also speaking, the Director of Environment Management & Host Community at NMDPRA, Mrs. Anne Omezi, said the workshop brought together regulators, operators, community leaders, government representatives, and private sector partners to advance the implementation of the Trust framework.
Omezi said the goal is to ensure the framework is operationalised in a transparent, inclusive, and sustainable manner.
She noted that the event marked a significant milestone in ensuring that host communities are not only recognised but empowered under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
“We are here to build bridges of understanding, foster collaboration, and establish a shared vision for community development,” she said.
