The Rivers State Government has announced plans to sensitise local government officials and stakeholders on the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and its implications for host communities. The two-day training programme, organised in partnership with the Centre for Advanced Law Research at Rivers State University and F1 Team Associates, is scheduled to take place on September 22 and 23, 2025, in Port Harcourt. The initiative is expected to deepen participants’ understanding of the landmark legislation enacted in 2021.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the Lead Consultant of F1 Team Associates, Jude Ndubuisi, described the PIA as a consolidation of existing petroleum laws and a framework for host community development. He highlighted the Act’s creation of the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), designed to ensure that oil-bearing communities benefit directly from petroleum operations. Ndubuisi noted that empowering local government councils with robust knowledge of the Act would enhance its smooth implementation in Rivers State.

He further explained that the sensitisation would address the responsibilities of councils, being the closest tier of government to oil-producing communities. According to him, the Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) will oversee the Host Community Development Trusts, ensuring strict compliance in areas such as finance and project management. “We have laid down very strict regulations in terms of control, in terms of finance, and in terms of project management,” he said.

Also speaking, Professor Kato Kingston, an expert in Petroleum, Energy and Natural Resource Law, clarified that the Act’s provision of three percent of oil companies’ operating expenditure is strictly for community development projects based on needs assessments. He stressed that funds would not be shared as cash but invested in infrastructure such as schools and water projects. In his remarks, Professor Sam Dike, a scholar of Energy and Environmental Law, said the programme would also address grey areas in the Act, with experts providing participants comprehensive insights into the PIA and its practical applications.