Press Release: 18/6/2026
Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) has launched an Independent Host Community Development Trust (I-HCDT) Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Reporting and Learning Platform aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and public access to information on Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) implementation across the Niger Delta.
The launch took place during a high-level Town Hall Meeting on Maximising the Benefits of Host Community Development Trusts in Host Communities in the Niger Delta, which brought together members of the National Assembly, petroleum regulators, industry representatives, HCDT administrators, host communities, civil society organisations, and academia to examine progress and challenges in implementing the Host Community Development Trust framework established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The new platform will independently track HCDT implementation and provide stakeholders with timely information on projects, governance processes, and development outcomes. The initiative is expected to support evidence-based decision-making, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and encourage more effective delivery of development projects within host communities.
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, expressed concern over the slow pace of implementation despite substantial funding commitments to HCDTs.
“About 140 Trusts have been funded, either fully or partly, but are we having that impact in these communities? The answer is no,” he said. “The more implementation is delayed, the more communities lose opportunities for development. We must ensure that these resources deliver tangible benefits to the people they were intended to serve.”
A key feature of the event was the presentation of findings from SDN’s latest study, Evaluation of the Implementation Status of Host Community Development Trusts in the Niger Delta, one of the most comprehensive assessments of HCDT implementation conducted to date.
The study highlights important achievements recorded by HCDTs since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act, including investments in roads, education, rural electrification, scholarships, and livelihood programmes. However, it also identifies persistent challenges in governance, accountability, institutional capacity, stakeholder awareness, and monitoring systems that could limit the Trusts’ long-term impact if left unaddressed.
Speaking at the event, SDN Country Director, Mrs. Florence Ibok-Abasi, said the organisation’s goal is to support continuous improvement in the implementation of the HCDT framework.
“The HCDT is a unique model, and we have seen significant gains in several communities where projects are delivering visible results. However, monitoring remains critical. Civil society’s role is not to witch-hunt anyone, but to ensure that information is available and that stakeholders have the evidence needed to strengthen implementation and improve outcomes.”
She noted that the newly launched monitoring platform would help bridge information gaps, support learning, and provide stakeholders with independent data to improve the effectiveness of community development investments.
The Town Hall Meeting served as a platform for dialogue on practical solutions to strengthen HCDT governance, improve community participation, enhance transparency, and maximise the developmental impact of the Trusts across the Niger Delta.
As Nigeria continues to implement the Petroleum Industry Act, stakeholders at the event emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among regulators, industry operators, Trust administrators, host communities, and civil society to ensure that HCDTs fulfil their mandate of delivering sustainable development and shared prosperity in oil-producing communities.
About Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN)
Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) is an international non-governmental organisation working to address the underlying causes of conflict and instability in the Niger Delta through programmes that promote inclusive governance, sustainable livelihoods, environmental justice, peacebuilding, and accountable natural resource management. SDN works alongside communities, government institutions, civil society, and the private sector to support locally driven solutions that contribute to sustainable development across the region.
For media enquiries, please contact:
ThankGod Okorisha
Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN)
Email: thankgod.okorisha@sdn.ngo
