The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, has stated that the establishment of Host Communities (HostComm) Development Trust Is Key in ensuring the harmonious relationship between the Host Communities and the oil companies in the State.
Barr. Otuaro stated this on Thursday in Asaba while receiving the delegation of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) led by the Director General, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, on an advocacy visit on the determination of “Host Communities Along the Gulf of Guinea”.
The deputy governor asserted that, for “Host Communities” to be recognized by the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA and for them to be gazetted by National Boundary Commission, NBC, the government needs to intensify efforts to identify areas that fall within the category.
According to him; “This is to enable those communities to benefit from the 3% set aside for them by PIA Act”.
Barr. Otuaro, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Isaiah Bozimoh Esq. applauded NBC for its advocacy noting that the sensitization visit was a laudable idea.
“I want to assure you that for us in Delta State, we will cooperate and collaborate with your Commission to ensuring that Communities that falls within that coastal line benefit from the PIA, and non of these communities would be left out”.
Barr. Otuaro assured of the Delta State Government readiness to give all the necessary support to ensuring that the exercise is successfully conducted.
Earlier in his address, the Director General (D-G) of National Boundary Commission, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, who was represented by the Director of Internal Boundaries, Mr Nicholas Emiowele, disclosed that the NBC team was in the State to press home the need to work closely with Delta State Boundary Commission to identify the communities recognized by the Acts as “Host Communities”.
According to him, Section 318 of the PIA, states- “a littoral community is a deep-water area of operation located along the Gulf of Guinea of the Nigerian shoreline up to about 500 meters inland, provided that such community is gazetted by the NBC”.
Adaji in his address maintained that the primary objectives of gazetting the host communities are to foster sustainable prosperity, enhance harmonious co-existence between Licenses/Lesses and host communities, provide direct social and economic benefits and create a framework to support the development of identified and gazetted host Communities.
The NBC Boss noted that, “it is important that all the Communities within the specified 500m buffers from the coastline must be located and captured in the data bank of the Communities to be Gazetted, for them to benefit adequately from the provisions of the Act.
“A previous survey had identified some of these communities, but it is imperative that the Commission, in conjunction with the Delta State Boundary Commission, do a thorough compilation that can be defended”. He noted.
Surveyor Adamu Adaji appreciated the warm reception accorded them by the State Government, as well as the support the State has given to NBC.
He also specially commended the Executive Assistant on Boundary Matters to the Governor, Mr. Gweke Akidohor, Esq. for the support and diligent service he has been rendering.
Also in attendance at the advocay visit are members of the Delta State Boundary Committee including, Mrs. Gladys Puegenren, the Secretary of the Committee and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Lands, Mr. Chukwuemeka Eboka, the State Surveyor General and Chief Gweke Akudihor, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Boundary Matters.
