By Emmanuella Anokam
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has disclosed that the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) has risen to N373bn as of Oct. 13, 2025.
This is just as it revealed that about 536 community projects are ongoing simultaneously.
In a statement made available on Monday by its Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, the Commission said the fund comprised N125 billion and $168.9 million dollars.
Recall that Section 235 of the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, mandates settlors (oil companies) to incorporate Host Community Development Trust for the benefit of host communities where they operate.
The HCDT requires oil companies to deposit three per cent of their operating expenditures of the preceding financial year into a trust fund which will be housed in a bank with BBB rating.
The PIA further stipulates that the settlor shall for the purpose of setting up the trust, in consultation with the host communities, appoint a board of trustees which shall be registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission as a corporate body.
The oil company then undertakes a NEEDS assessment that will metamorphose into the community development plan for the purpose of determining the projects that will be executed.
The fund is often dedicated to community development projects spanning infrastructure, education, healthcare, and environmental protection.
Akinkuotu said while the NUPRC did not have direct access to the funds, it monitored the fund through a dashboard known as HostComply and monitored its implementation as mandated by the extant laws.
In line with the PIA, he disclosed that the NUPRC in September, facilitated the delivery of over 10 life-changing projects and the flag-off of more than 10 others under the Obagi HCDT in Rivers State, operated by TotalEnergies.
He said these projects were officially handed over to the communities hosting OML 58 during a project commissioning held from Sept. 24 to Sept. 25, 2025, at Ogbogu Community in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the milestone marked a defining moment in the implementation of the HCDT provisions under Section 235 of the PIA 2021 and stood as a testament to the NUPRC’s commitment to delivering on its mandate.
“The projects delivered include demolition and construction of two-storey building classroom blocks with 18 fully furnished standard classrooms size of 56 square metres UBEC standard at Ogbogu Community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA.
“Remodelled Ogbogu Cottage Hospital with 20 beds capacity and a new newly constructed diagnostic centre and revitalisation and infrastructure upgrade of 1,200 capacity Ogbogu Ultra Modern Civic Centre in Ogbogu community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA.
“Others are fully constructed 260 metres asphalt pavement at Obe Road, Oboburu Community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA and fully constructed 320 metres reinforced concrete pavement at SDA Road, Oboburu Community in Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA.
“The HCDT also delivered the construction of Amah Bottling Water Factory, Amah Community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA, with a production capacity of 1,500 bottles per hour and satchet water machine with a capacity of 2,000 per hour.
“Construction of admin and security buildings, procurement of Gas Skid Plant in Erema Community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA, among others,” he said.
Speaking during the handover, the Commission Chief Executive, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, said the projects would address issues related to basic education, healthcare, employment, and more.
Komolafe, represented by Capt. John Tonglagha, the Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment, and Community,
encouraged host communities to take ownership of the infrastructure and collaborate with upstream operators to deliver national prosperity.
The Governor of Rivers State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, expressed delight over the timely delivery of the projects by the Obagi HCDT.
She said that in previous administrations, funds were sent to communities but were not fully utilised the way it was currently utilised.
The Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, while expressing pride in being the first to deliver on the HCDT mandate, described the project as an example of outcome of trust and policy being aligned.
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