The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and the Ford Foundation have concluded the Bridges Project with a high-level stakeholders’ dialogue forum aimed at reviewing four years of implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), particularly the Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), and outlining next steps for sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
The forum, held as a two-day close-out event, brought together more than 150 participants, including representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), South-South Development Commission (SSDC), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), state governments, development partners, civil society, settlors and community leaders.
Executive Director of PIND, Mr Sam Ogbemi Daibo, said the forum marked a significant milestone in consolidating insights from the initiative. He also said the project demonstrated that the success of the PIA’s HCDT model relies heavily on collaboration, community engagement and accountability.
Participants also reviewed the Bridges Project status report which highlighted increased awareness of the PIA, improved stakeholder collaboration and strengthened participatory governance across host communities.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the chief executive of the NUPRC, the commission’s manager for Host Community Development Administration, Mrs Omolade Awah, commended PIND and the Ford Foundation for promoting evidence-based engagement. She noted that the HCDT framework was already producing tangible results, including infrastructure and human capital development, as well as improved community trust and stability. She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that HCDTs remain a reliable mechanism for sustainable development and peacebuilding.
Akwa Ibom State commissioner for budget and economic planning, Dr Linus Nkan, emphasised the need for shared accountability and continuous learning to strengthen HCDT implementation, adding that the model should be fully embraced across all Niger Delta states.
As the project winds down, PIND and the Ford Foundation restated their commitment to supporting capacity building for HCDTs, strengthening the multi-stakeholder platform, and advancing community-led peace and development in the region.
Launched in 2023, the Bridges Project has created a platform for dialogue among regulators, settlors and host communities.
