RMAFC vows to protect host communities, threatens SEEPCO

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has vowed to safeguard Nigeria’s oil-producing host communities by tightening oversight of operators and regulatory bodies.

RMAFC Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Shehu, stated this in Abuja during an investigative hearing by the commission’s Investment Monitoring Committee into Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) and its implementation of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDT) under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Committee Chairman, Dr. Ekene Enefe, warned that host communities must stop bearing environmental burdens without receiving statutory benefits. He issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to dissolve the disputed trust and promised an ultimatum for SEEPCO to pay owed funds.

Though NUPRC representative Mrs. Ufondu Ejiro claimed the trust was lawfully established, community representative, Peter Chukwudi, disputed her submission, asserting that genuine representatives were excluded.

Anambra State Petroleum Commissioner Prof. Charles Ofoegbu, and several federal commissioners also raised concerns over NUPRC’s verification process, demanding closer collaboration with state governments.

Enefe promised that all submissions would be thoroughly reviewed to ensure justice for the host communities.