The House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities has called for a 100 per cent increase in the allocation to host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), citing the need to address environmental degradation, underdevelopment and economic hardship in oil-producing areas.

Chairman of the committee, who spoke during a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, said the current allocation to host communities was inadequate considering the enormous contributions of oil-producing communities to the nation’s economy.

The panel argued that increasing the funds would help improve infrastructure, create jobs, support community development projects and reduce tensions in the Niger Delta and other oil-producing regions.

Lawmakers at the meeting stressed that host communities have continued to suffer the impact of oil exploration activities, including pollution, loss of livelihoods and inadequate social amenities, despite decades of contributing to national revenue.

Stakeholders also urged oil companies and relevant government agencies to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of host community funds to guarantee that the benefits reach the people directly affected by oil operations.

The committee assured that the House of Representatives would continue consultations with stakeholders as part of efforts to strengthen the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and promote sustainable development in host communities across the country.