Host communities from Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have commended the Ford Foundation, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND, and the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, for leading the sensitization and awareness creation on the implementation of the Petroluem Industry Act, PIA.

This is coming after representatives of host communities in the South-West state attended a 'Sensitization and Awareness Creation for Host Communities on PIA Implementation' programme that was facilitated by CEPEJ, a foremost nongovernmental organisation, and the PIND, at the SunView Hotel in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

The programme witnessed lectures and keynote addresses delivered to host communities representatives by facilitators from CEPEJ and PIND. Among those that spoke include the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade; and an Analysis and Advocacy Manager from PIND, Chuks Ofulue. Other CEPEJ staff include a Board of Trustee, Dr. Godwin Orhadahwe; Communications Director/Environmental & Humanitarian Services, Mr. Daniel Tonfawei; the Senior Programme Manager, Mr. Samuel Ideh; and CEPEJ's Administrative Officer, Mrs. Tina Agidi, including its ICT personnel, Mr. Olatoke Olasupo.

In the course of the programme, participants were sensitized on the origin of the PIA Act, the structure and governance of the Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), the funding and management of the HCDT, the PIA Implementation process, suggested criteria for selection of HCDT BoT, management and advisory committee members; and grievance management for PIA Implementation.

Speaking on behalf of the host community representatives, Chief Mese Ilemobayo, the Baale of Mese community and the chairman of its RDC, expressed his appreciation to the funders and facilitators of the programme and assured them that the host communitoes will cooperate with the regulators and settlors as well as do the needful by creating a peaceful environment for the PIA implementation process to be smooth.

A female host community representative, Comr. Adeokan Omofele, admitted that she gained a lot from the PIA exposition as it has helped to further give those in attendance a better understanding of what the whole PIA implementation process entails, which she also claimed is far better than the GMoU that was formerly in place.

"I pray the PIA has come to stay and that it brings more development to our Niger Delta region, attract peace and bring benefits to the people in Jesus name," she prayed.

On his part, the representative of PIND, Ofulue, who noted that the PIA has already kick-started despite some delays, advised the host communities to utilize the powers the PIA bestowed on them by protecting oil facilities in their domain to boost revenues that will accrue to the HCDT, stressing that "it is in the interest of the three stakeholders—settlors, host communities and regulators—to ensure that the PIA works."

Earlier, Chief Sheriff Mulade, who is the Ibe Sorimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South-West LGA of Delta State, during the course of the programme reaffirmed the purpose of the awareness creation which is geared towards "deepening" the understanding of host communities as regards the processes of implementing the PIA.

He said, "Inside the PIA, it is clear that three percent of the operational cost will be given to the host community. It's not like the GMoU where oil companies will tell you they can't give more than a certain amount. There's no more production reserve, it's the law.

"And if you don't know it, the oil companies will still attempt to use their old system to manipulate host communities. And that is why, when this law (PIA Act) came to be, some of these international organization such as the Ford Foundation deem it fit that we need to deepen the knowledge of our people, we need to expose the benefit of the PIA to them, we need to create awareness so that the host communities will understand the PIA, because most people, up till now are yet to understand the processes of the PIA," he disclosed.

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