Speaking at the launch of a policy brief titled: “Giving Host Communities Their Due: Revisiting the 3% OPEX Funding Framework for HCDTs in Nigeria”, developed by Spaces for Change, Orji explained that non-state actors like civil society groups have a stake in making sure that the fund is spent transparently.
Orji stated that what happened in the Niger Delta in the past was that over a long period, institutions and agencies were created, but with very little impact on the lives of the host communities.
The host communities fund, which was established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, is designed to enhance the welfare of host communities, ensure sustainable development, and promote peaceful coexistence between industry operators and their host environments.