Mr. Josiah Ntekume, the Chairman, Host Communities Fund (HOSTCOM) in Ugbelli North Local Government Area of Delta has appealed to the National Assembly (NASS) to include the HOSTCOM into the new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Ntekume made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after his inauguration as chairman on Friday in Agbarho, Ughelli North.
He said scrapping the host communities fund might be counter-productive to the economy and capable of truncating the relative peace that had returned to the region.
He said “I want to appeal to NASS not to remove the HOSTCOM fund from the new Petroleum Industry Governance Bill because it is capable of truncating the peace we are enjoying in the region today and consequently affect the economy.”
Ntekume promised to sustain and improve on the existing good relationship between the people and oil companies operating in the area.
He also promised to maintain cordial relationship with the royal fathers and security agencies operating under his jurisdiction.
Highlight of the event was the swearing in of the Patron of HOSTCOM, Delta Central, Mr. Awala Inone. (NAN)