The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, said it has successfully set up an Alternatives Dispute Resolution, ADR, to handle issues that may arise from the implementation of the 3% oil revenue to communities in the Host Communities Development Trust. The regulatory body disclosed this in Port Harcourt during a two-day Technical Session on the Implementation of Host Communities Development Trusts organised by Space for Change (S4C) for critical stakeholders with support from Ford Foundation and the Federal House of Representatives. Speaking in her presentation, the Director, Health Safety, Environment and Community, Mrs. Ejiro Ufondu, noted that the move was to ensure that disputes arising from the implementation of the PIA was quickly resolved.
Ufondu, who represented the Commission Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, Engr. (Dr) Gbenga Komolafe, hinted that at the moment the court is domiciled in Bayelsa State and would handle issues between the settlor and the communities in the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. He said that it was the duty of the commission to set up mechanisms on revolving any issues that may affect smooth implementation of the process. He said “The Commission or Authority, as the case may be, shall make regulations on the administration, guide and safeguard the utilisation of the trust fund and have the oversight responsibility for ensuring that the projects proposed by the Board of Trustees are implemented. It will also set-up a grievance resolution mechanism between settlors and host communities.” He noted among its achievements as: “Successful gazette of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Host Communities’ Development Regulation, 2022 and Establishment of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) office in the Niger Delta (Bayelsa State).
