The President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Abuja
Your Excellency,
As your administration continues to forge ahead with a vision of Renewed Hope and national transformation, it is important to recognize and reciprocate the unparalleled support extended to your leadership by the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), under the distinguished leadership of His Highness (Dr.) Benjamin Style Tamaranebi (JP) and His Eminence King Dr. Edmund Daukoru, CON. These communities have remained peaceful, law-abiding, and deeply loyal to your administration, even in the face of long-standing deprivation and unfulfilled federal commitments.
HOSTCOM, which comprises the indigenous custodians of Nigeria’s most strategic oil and gas infrastructure, has shown extraordinary maturity and restraint, deliberately opting for dialogue over agitation, cooperation over confrontation, and patriotism over parochialism. This unwavering support must now be met with concrete, visible action in the form of the long-overdue release of the ₦98 billion gas flare penalty funds approved by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017.
Why Now?
1. Strategic National Interest
The release of these funds is not an act of largesse—it is a strategic investment in national stability. The Niger Delta remains the economic heart of Nigeria. Securing peace and goodwill in this region is paramount to uninterrupted oil production, energy security, and national revenue generation. The sustained partnership with HOSTCOM is critical to safeguarding these interests.
2. Rewarding Loyal Partnership In a political climate where trust is scarce and agitation is rife, HOSTCOM has distinguished itself as a dependable, development-oriented partner. The group has mobilized grassroots support for Your Excellency’s administration, defused tensions in volatile zones, and helped preserve the sanctity of national assets across the oil-bearing belt. Such loyalty, rare and noble, deserves not only recognition but a clear reward. The release of these funds will validate their faith in your leadership.
3. Presidential Continuity and Legacy The ₦98 billion gas flare penalty fund was a well-conceived presidential policy under the administration of President Buhari, who approved its allocation to HOSTCOM for community-based development. Your approval and implementation of this fund would represent a bold affirmation of institutional continuity and demonstrate that your administration honors past commitments, especially when they serve the public good. This act would etch Your Excellency’s name in the hearts of Niger Deltans as the President who turned policy into prosperity.
4. Catalyst for Peace, Prosperity, and Production The HOSTCOM strategic utilization plan is already in place, targeting infrastructure, economic empowerment, capacity building, and environmental welfare. The structure for transparent disbursement through verified trust accounts and a reputable board ensures accountability. The swift release of this fund will immediately activate a chain of community-based projects, creating jobs, reducing youth restiveness, and promoting microeconomic growth at the grassroots—factors essential to peace, increased oil production, and regional integration.
5. Moral and Legal Equity Gas flaring has inflicted untold environmental and health damage upon the communities hosting Nigeria’s economic lifeblood. The penalties collected for such environmental injustice are morally and legally due to the victims. Anything short of releasing these funds risks portraying the state as an unjust benefactor of suffering. Doing so, however, restores justice and sends a powerful message of ethical leadership under your presidency.
A CALL TO WRITE HISTORY
Your Excellency, the time has come to convert promises into performance and empathy into action. The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas have demonstrated statesmanship, sacrifice, and strength of character. The release of the ₦98 billion gas flare penalties will be a bold and historic gesture—one that will catalyze development, consolidate peace, and inspire faith in your vision of a Renewed Nigeria.
We urge Your Excellency to seize this opportunity to write your name in gold in the annals of Niger Delta history by ensuring the immediate disbursement of these long-awaited funds.
With unshaken faith in your leadership,
Sam Eno, PhD
