By Ben Ogbemudia
A member of the Board of Trustee (BoT), Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Chief Francis Inegbeniki on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the National House of Assembly, not to allow the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio to manage the 3% fund allocated to the Host Communities in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Chief Inegbeniki, Vice-Chairman (Edo Central) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo state chapter, in a statement in Abuja condemned the comment credited to Senator Godswill Akpabio’s demands to set up, a Trust Fund in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, to manage the 3% Host Communities Fund.
The APC chieftain said that Senator Akpabio should be reminded that the Commander-in-Chief, President Buhari has graciously appointed the PIA Implementation Committee led by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, a former Governor of Bayelsa state.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio should focus and concerned himself on his job in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The National Assembly didn’t create any role for Senator Akpabio and his Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in the management of the 3% Host Communities Fund in the PIA. Therefore, Akpabio should perish the thought of managing the 3% Host Communities Fund.”
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Chief Inegbeniki further said, “the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), is a product of Ministry of Petroleum Resources, as such, the Petroleum Ministry which has direct dealings with the Host Communities is expected to develop a framework, coordinate and work with the Host Communities on the remittances and management of the 3% fund, for the Host Communities. I urge President Buhari, National House of Assembly, Minister Timipre Sylva and Host Communities in the Niger Delta to disregard Akpabio’s ill-conceived and suspicious plan on the 3% Host Communities Fund.”
Chief Inegbeniki warned that the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), will not hesitate to mobilize the host communities in the Niger Delta, to resist Senator Akpabio’s ignoble plan and attempt to mislead President Buhari over the management of the 3% Host Communities Fund.
