By Tony Okafor, Awka
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has disowned groups claiming to be coordinators of oil host communities, labeling them as fake.
This declaration was made during a Town Hall Meeting on Implementing Host Communities Provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in Anambra State.
Dr. Okpa and Monday Osasah, Executive Director of Centre LSD, emphasized that those groups were not recognized by any
“The commission does not recognize such groups,” they stated.
The meeting aimed to facilitate collaboration among investors, host communities, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and NUPRC.
Participants, including traditional rulers, reported cases of extortion by these groups, demanding sums ranging from N20,000 N250,000 for membership and benefits.
Prince Chris Azor, President of International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), warned against fake host community organizations in Abuja or Lagos, coming to Anambra to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.
Azor said, “NUPRC’s presentation has clarified that the Board of Trustees (BOT) shall be formed through consultation between investors and the host community, not by external imposition.”
“NUPRC’s presentation confirmed that groups claiming to be coordinators are illegal. We urge communities to be vigilant and identify such criminality.
Azor said the Anambra State Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources had previously sensitized the public about these dubious groups.
He urged the media to create awareness and inform the public to be wary of such fake groups, adding,”Communities must be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
Azor said,”By working together, we can prevent illegal activities and ensure a safer and more transparent process for host community representation.”
