PIA: Stakeholders Demand Accountability, Growth for Host Communities

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector have called for stronger accountability, inclusive development, and effective implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to ensure host communities benefit meaningfully from oil exploration activities.

The call was made during the 2nd KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust (KHCDT) Stakeholders Forum held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where community leaders, government officials, and industry players stressed the need for collaboration to drive sustainable development.

In his welcome address, chairman of the KHCDT Board of Trustees, His Royal Highness Moses Theophilus, said the forum provides a platform for dialogue and practical solutions to challenges facing host communities.

He noted that while the PIA has created opportunities for development, there are still gaps in areas such as employment, community participation, and capacity building that require urgent attention.

Theophilus stressed that development should go beyond infrastructure to include sustainability, inclusiveness, and long-term impact, adding that communities must take ownership of projects for lasting benefits.

He also called for stronger partnerships among stakeholders to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure that development initiatives are well coordinated and impactful.

He said: “This forum continues to serve as a vital platform for dialogue, reflection, and collective action towards the sustainable development of our host communities.

“We must move beyond short-term interventions and embrace long-term thinking. We must ensure that our projects are not only executed, but also maintained, owned, and beneficial to future generations.”

Also speaking, representative of the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, said local content development is closely linked to host community development.

He explained that building local capacity through skills development, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure will help communities actively participate in the oil and gas value chain.

Halilu said the PIA provides a clear framework for structured and sustainable development through the Host Community Development Trust, which is funded by a percentage of operating revenue.

He added that transparency and accountability are key to ensuring that resources allocated to communities deliver real results and improve livelihoods.

He said: “The Petroleum Industry Act provides a clear and transformative framework for host community development. Host communities are vital stakeholders and their development must be structured, predictable, and sustainable.

“Through the PIA, the host communities are not just goodwill gestures. They are institutional vehicles designed to deliver long-term benefits for communities.”

In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri, represented by the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Barrister Peter Afagha, said the forum is important for strengthening relationships between communities and operators.

He noted that visionary leadership, accountability, and inclusive growth are essential for achieving lasting development in host communities, adding that the state government has prioritised people-centred development, transparency, and economic growth, which have contributed to peace and stability in the state.

He also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects as evidence of what effective leadership and accountability can achieve.

He said: “The theme chosen for this forum speaks directly to the fundamentals of good governance and the practical necessities of development in host communities. Vision without accountability is hollow. Accountability without vision is aimless. It is the combination of the two that produces lasting progress.”

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P), Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, said the success of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) framework depends largely on transparent governance, disciplined execution of projects, and meaningful involvement of women, youths, and vulnerable groups in decision-making processes.

He said: “As we have learned from experience, legislation alone does not deliver development. It is the quality of leadership, the strength of institutions and the depth of accountability that ultimately determine outcomes.

“Visionary leadership must be matched with accountability frameworks that build and sustain trust. Inclusivity must go beyond representation to meaningful participation, particularly for women, youth and vulnerable groups.”

Adeyemi also reaffirmed First E&P’s commitment to supporting host communities through sustainable development initiatives, stressing that the company’s partnership with KEFFESO HCDT is built on responsibility and long-term impact beyond regulatory obligations.