Chairman Wants FG, IOCs To Include HOSTCOM In JV Partners

The National Chairman of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Dr Benjamin Style, has urged the Federal Government and international oil companies to include HOSTCOM in the Joint Venture partner arrangement.
In his presentation at this year’s Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), Abuja, made available to newsmen in Warri, Delta State, Style said the inclusion of HOSTCOM in the JV existing between the Federal Government and the IOCs will resolve the challenge of neglect oil and gas communities currently suffer in the country.
“Government and multinational oil companies should think of involving host communities as one of the JV partners to create an enabling environment devoid of crime and youth restiveness”, he said.
Continuing, he said the increase from 2.4 million to 3 million barrel of crude production per day in the Niger Delta was largely due to the peace in the region, stressing that HOSTCOM as a body will continue to work with relevant agencies to sustain the peace.
“Involving HOSTCOM in the industry will bring sanity, sustainable peace and development in oil and Gas bearing communities. I quickly call on Minister of State Petroleum Resource, GMD NNPC to acknowledge and involve HOSTCOM into JV partners.”