Maryam Aminu
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has issued a stern call to oil companies operating in Nigeria to fully meet their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations to host communities, warning that neglect will no longer be tolerated.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, gave the charge during a mediation meeting in Abuja between Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), Orient Petroleum, and host communities in Anambra State.
The session, held on Friday and witnessed by the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), was convened following allegations of neglect against the oil firms.
Dr. Shehu stressed that RMAFC would ensure strict adherence to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), insisting on transparency and fairness in CSR implementation.
“We expect oil companies to meet their obligations to the people in whose communities they operate,” he said.
Hon. Ekene Enefe, Chairman of RMAFC’s Investment Monitoring Committee (IMC), criticized SEEPCO’s CSR performance, describing it as unsatisfactory.
He directed the company to provide audited reports of its 3% host community expenditure since the PIA’s implementation and warned that oversight visits would be conducted to verify compliance.
“We want to see real projects such as roads, schools, hospitals, electricity, and jobs. That is the result we expect from CSR deductions,” he stated.
Community representatives from Ogwu Ikpele and Ogwu Aniocha lamented years of broken promises, demanding visible development.
“Our people live without roads, schools, or hospitals while companies drill oil on our land. We want fairness and projects that touch lives,” said Mr. Esumai Patrick.
In response, SEEPCO’s representative, Barr. Emmanuel Ajang, assured that the company had commenced implementing its Host Community Development Trust, while Orient Petroleum disclosed plans to scale up gas production through a new partnership.
The NUPRC also affirmed that it was monitoring compliance closely, reconciling metering systems, and tracking Host Community Trust projects.
Other RMAFC Commissioners present stressed the importance of accountability in crude oil reporting and ensuring that host communities benefit directly from oil operations.
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