HOSTCOM Calls for Amendment of Petroleum Industry Act 2021

HOSTCOM Calls for Amendment of Petroleum Industry Act 2021 – Press Conference

WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY HOST COMMUNITIES OF NIGERIA PRODUCING OIL AND GAS (HOSTCOM) ON TUESDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2024 AT HOSTCOM HOUSE, ABUJA.

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Gentlemen of the Press, the fourth estate of the realm and vocal mouthpiece of the poor and vulnerable masses. We invited you here to brief you on very sensitive national issues.

While we commend the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 that has kick started in some areas, there are many things that have to be taken care of. The above applies to the 3% accruing to Host Communities. There is need for the immediate Upward Review of the 3% which is now very insignificant due to the prevalent economic realities.

We give kudos to NUPRC for priotizing first the HOSTCOM Regulations and today we are seeing the improvement in our production and we appeal to those operators that have not complied, to do so immediately to incorporate the HCDT for maximal use.

Moving forward, we shall engage the leaderships of both chambers of the National Assembly and their noble members to push for amendments of the Petroleum Industry Act to address contentious areas and clauses eg section 257 sub section 2 that says, if there is vandalization or sabotage, the community will forfeit the actual cost of repair.

While section 52 says there should a Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund. In section 52
sub section 7 (d) and section 104 sub section 4 says, money received from Gas Flares Penalties by the Commission shall be for the purpose of environmental remediation and relief of the host communities of the Settlors on which the penalty are levied. Gas Flare funds shall be channeled to the Trust Fund Account set up by settlors to avoid crises, and other notable sections of the PIA 2021 Act.

Very importantly, our attention has been drawn to the call for the deployment and possible sack of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri Ph.D, the Hon. Minister of
State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) for incompetence and other spurious allegations. The fact that Senator Heineken Lokpobiri is a renowned Lawyer and a Ph.D holder makes him very qualified and competent. But beyond the above, he has changed the narratives as he took over a year ago.

We wish to state categorically that the talk about incompetence is the figment of the imaginations of the sponsored individuals considering the fact that the appointment of Lokpobiri has helped to douse a lot of tension including the issue of insecurity and community agitations.

HOSTCOM also condemn in very strong terms rumour about ongoing plan to impeach the Senate President Chief (Barr) Godswill Obot Akpabio.

HOSTCOM frowns at such plans and advise those behind such divisive, deceptive and distractive moves to jettison it because it is not in the interest of the country.

We vehemently oppose the idea of always sacrificing Southern leaders who are often used as sacrificing lambs in national politics.

His Excellency, Chief Akpabio who left indelible records as the BEST GOVERNOR during his two terms as Governor of Akwa Ibom state is the highest political office holder in the geographic Niger Delta region that has been carrying the Economic Burden of the country since 1956 when crude oil and gas were first discovered in commercial quantities and qualities.

Chief (Barr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio like every other human being has a fair share of human flaws and weaknesses, but the above cannot be compared to the positive values that he has continued to add to the governance system since the commencement of his political ascendancy.

We therefore reiterate that the South shall rally maximum support for Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio at this most crucial and critical moment, same to other South South and southern leaders in public offices.

HOSTCOM uses this opportunity to pass VOTE OF CONFIDENCE on His Excellency Chief (Barr) Godswill Obot Akpabio and the leadership of the National Assembly for their immeasurable and invaluable sacrifices in the midst of the prevalent economic in the country. We extend same Token to Very Distinguished Senator Heineken Lokpobiri the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil).

Finally, as the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), we shall remain firm and resolute in fighting to protect the interest of oil and gas bearing communities. We urge all men and women of goodwill to continue to give unprecedented support to HOSTCOM whose daily efforts is to ensure that oil and gas bearing communities are not cheated or treated badly by the IOCs or agents of government.

God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria
God bless Niger Delta
God bless HOSTCOM.