…As Senate may press for sanctions against IOCs yet to set up host community trust funds

Matthieu Bouyer, Managing Director of TotalEnergies, has pointed to possibility of mass job creation in OML 58 areas of Egi Oil Fileds in Rivers State through nine projects just commissioned. He said it can create 1000 jobs and impact 30,000 persons.

This is as the senate may press for sanctions against oil majors that are yet to set up host community trust funds.

The projects were executed by the OML 58 through the Obagi Host Communities Development Trust (HTDC), which TotalEnergies said would impact about 30,000 community persons.

The MD said the projects were not just about infrastructure but a celebration of partnership geared towards empowering communities and enriching the future, as prescribed in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

‎Bouyer made these known during the inauguration at Ogbogu Secondary School, Ogbogu where a two story building of 18 classroom block to accommodate 900 students was made available for use to the benefits of the communities.

The TotalEnergies boss explained that the nine projects which include a cottage hospital at Ogbogu, road construction at Oboburu, bottled water company at Ama and a cooking gas plant at Erema will impact 30,000 people and create 1000 jobs.

‎He Stated that TotalEnergies was the first company to implement the Host Communities Development Trust in it’s area of operation, two years ago, after the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021.

‎Bouyer described the accomplishment of the Obagi HCDT as one of the means of sharing values with the host communities for their contributions to the success recorded in the area.‎

‎TotalEnergies assured the public the milestone recorded in the area has come to stay as the provisions of the HCDT is a yearly contribution to Communities as stipulated in the PIA.

‎They stated that the HCDT is a well-structured way of impacting the host communities and ensuring sustainable development in the area.

‎TotalEnergies identified some of the benefits of the Host Communities Development Trust (HCDTs) to include the fact that they are managed by the communities and as such they decide the area of focus depending on the needs of the communities.

‎Meanwhile, the senate is said to have begun pressing for sanctions against international oil companies (IOCs) that are yet to establish host community trust funds (HCTF) as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

This is as the senate said in a part of Rivers State Wednesday, September 24, 2025, that it is test-running the implementation of the PIA as it concerns host communities.

Benson Agadaga, the chairman, senate committee on host communities, observed that so far, the host communities no longer seem hostile as before because they now have steady expectations and that the host communities were seeing the expectations.

He thus called on other HCDTs to do the same, and that IOCs who are yet to set up HCDTs must be sanctioned. “Peace and maximum oil production can only come through these Trusts.”

Agadaga declared that the projects were proof that the PIA is working. “Today we’re test-running the achievements of the PIA. The little peace we are seeing in the oil and gas industry in the Niger Delta is because of this Act.”

The position of the senate seems supported by the House of Representatives. Cyril Hart, representing Dum Dekor, the chairman, House of Reps Committee on Host Communities, said the commissioning of projects at Obalga marked a successful application of Section 234 of the PIA.

He said: “What you’re seeing today is prosperity for the community, socio-economic benefits from oil and gas revenues, and ultimately, peace. If this HCDT comes before the House, all we will say is ‘take a bow and go’ because you have done well”.

Stakeholders who attended the event said the PIA has recorded a major milestone as TotalEnergies and the Obagi Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) commissioned multiple landmark projects in OML-58 area in Rivers State.

They say the projects are a proof that the Act is transforming oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.

TotalEnergies stressed that sustainability rests with the community: “As we hand over these projects, I urge the people to take ownership. Development depends not just on building infrastructure, but on maintaining and protecting them for future generations.”

The state government was represented by Ngozi Ordu, the deputy governor, who said: “Commissioning over 10 projects and flagging off another 10 in one day within Egi is historic. Before now, funds were sent, but not utilized this way. I vouch for the Egi people that we will protect these projects and ensure they function because that’s the only way we can say thank you.”

Dike Hopeson, a high chief Dike, who is the chairman Obagi HCDT, said the Trust has executed over 500 projects in less than one year, describing it as an effort to transform lives in the communities of OML58.

‎He commended the setlor, TotalEnergies for ensuring that the dreams of the Communities come true, NNPCL for the work done for development of Obagi Oil Field host communities.

It is believed that with such massive project executions by over 137 HCTFs which are said to have received over N200bn from the NUPRC since 2021 when the PIA was set up. This is said to be helping in Nigeria’s quest to hit 2 million barrels per day in crude oil.