Delta State HOSTCOM Doing Well But Need to Demand More Derivation Funds Coming to HOSTCOM
By Wilson Macaulay
The leadership of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) in Delta State, under the stewardship of Senior Comrade Chief Sunday Ndidi Enujeke as Chairman and High Comrade Joseph Lamienghan as Secretary, has been widely commended for providing purposeful and coordinated leadership in the management of host community affairs across the state. Their efforts in unifying oil-bearing communities and strengthening institutional cohesion have continued to draw praise from critical stakeholders.
Speaking to journalists, notable stakeholders including Chief Harrison Abuge from Delta Central and Chief Mrs. Gloria Opute from Delta North lauded the leadership for its grassroots mobilization capacity, particularly during the 2023 general elections. According to them, HOSTCOM, under the current leadership, demonstrated remarkable organizational strength by mobilizing members across the 25 local government areas of Delta State to actively participate in the electoral process.
However, while acknowledging these achievements, the stakeholders expressed concern that HOSTCOM must go beyond mobilization of members for election and take a firmer standpoint in demanding its rightful share of derivation funds accruing to host communities. They argued that having contributed significantly to the political process, host communities deserve tangible returns in terms of development and direct access to funds meant for their welfare.
The stakeholders who further lamented the paucity of fund form HOSTCOM noted :
“We commend the leadership of HOSTCOM for the good work they are doing, but we must also be frank to say that much more need to be done. HOSTCOM should not be seen to be begging for funds that constitutionally belong to the host communities,” they stated. They emphasized that derivation funds are statutory entitlements and should be pursued with clarity, firmness, and strategic engagement instead of going cap in hand to government.
The stakeholders further noted that the current approach of engagement with relevant authorities must be strengthened to ensure that funds allocated for host communities are not only released in full but are also directly accessible to those they are meant to benefit. They stressed that the leadership of the Delta State HOSTCOM must assert itself as a strong voice capable of negotiating effectively on behalf of oil-producing communities.
Chief Mrs. Gloria Opute, in her remarks, highlighted that the struggle for derivation funds is not merely administrative but a matter of justice and equity. She pointed out that the host communities have borne the brunt of environmental degradation and economic disruption resulting from oil exploration activities, and as such, they deserve priority attention in resource allocation.
Looking ahead to the 2027 political cycle, the stakeholders urged the leadership of Delta State HOSTCOM to adopt a more strategic posture in political alignment. They advised that the body must carefully evaluate political actors and parties based on their commitment to the welfare of host communities, noting that HOSTCOM remains a critical stakeholder in Delta State politics whose influence cannot be overlooked.
They concluded by calling on the leadership of HOSTCOM, led by Chief Sunday Ndidi Enujeke and High Comrade Joseph Lamienghan, to build on the existing achievements and intensify advocacy efforts to secure greater access to derivation funds. According to them, the time has come for HOSTCOM to move from commendable performance to assertive engagement that guarantees measurable benefits for host communities across Delta State.
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(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, APRIL 22ND 2026)
