According to reporting by The Guardian, oil-producing host communities have intensified their calls for the immediate disbursement of the 13% derivation fund as stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Leaders from these regions argue that the delay in funding has stalled critical infrastructure projects and environmental remediation efforts.
The communities are demanding that the funds be paid directly to the Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) rather than through state government intermediaries. This tension comes as several communities threaten to disrupt oil production activities if their demands are not addressed by the end of the quarter.
Government representatives have urged for patience, citing the need for proper auditing and the verification of project milestones. However, community activists remain skeptical, pointing to the historical mismanagement of ecological funds in the Niger Delta.
Vanguard and Daily Post have verified the growing unrest in the region. Vanguard reported that “tensions are simmering in the Delta,” while Daily Post quoted a community leader saying, “the PIA promised us a stake in our own land, and we will no longer wait for crumbs.”
Echotitbits take: This is a classic “implementation gap” issue. The Federal Government needs to act quickly to empower the HCDTs to avoid another cycle of militancy that could derail current oil production gains.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/host-communities-demand-share-of-13-derivation-from-state-govts/, March 2nd, 2026
Photo credit: The Punch
