The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced that the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) fund has reached N373bn as of October 13, 2025, with 536 community projects ongoing across oil-producing regions.
According to a statement by the Commission’s Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, the fund comprises N125bn and $168.9m contributed by oil companies under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. The Act mandates settlors to allocate 3 per cent of their annual operating expenditure into a trust dedicated to host community development.
The Commission clarified that while it has no direct access to the funds, transparency is ensured through HostComply, a digital monitoring system tracking real-time project execution and disbursement. Funds are deposited in banks with at least a BBB credit rating and applied to infrastructure, healthcare, education, and environmental initiatives.
Demonstrating its progress, the NUPRC recently facilitated the commissioning of over 10 completed projects and flagged off another 10 under the Obagi Host Community Development Trust operated by TotalEnergies in Rivers State.
Delivered projects include a two-storey classroom block with 18 classrooms, the remodelling of Ogbogu Cottage Hospital, and road pavements in Oboburu, among others. These efforts, according to the Commission Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, are improving access to education, healthcare, and jobs in oil-producing communities.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, commended the transparency in HCDT fund management, noting visible development impacts compared to previous regimes. Similarly, Senator Benson Agadaga, Chair of the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas Host Communities, said the initiative has helped sustain peace in the Niger Delta.
Matthieu Bouyer, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria, revealed that over 500 projects across 60 communities are underway, creating more than 1,000 jobs.
The Host Community Development Trust remains one of the PIA’s most impactful reforms, fostering inclusiveness, accountability, and lasting stability across Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.
