LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is set to gain a new platform for addressing host community relations, investment risks and sustainable development with the launch of the inaugural Host Community Summit, HostComm™, scheduled for August 9–10, 2027, in Lagos.
The summit is expected to bring together regulators, oil and gas operators, investors, host community representatives, financial institutions, development organisations and other stakeholders across Nigeria’s energy value chain to develop practical approaches to improving relationships between industry players and communities hosting oil and gas operations.
HostComm™ is being organised by a consortium comprising Caritas Communications Limited, Africa Oil+Gas Report (AOGR) and Pedestal Africa. The platform is designed to close the gap between regulatory requirements and their implementation on the ground, particularly in the area of host community development.
With the theme, “Building Trust, Creating Shared Value and Sustaining Development,” the summit will focus on conflict prevention, community development, governance, investment protection and sustainable value creation.
The event comes against the backdrop of continuing efforts by Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, including provisions governing Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs).
For investors and operators, effective host community engagement has become an increasingly important component of risk management. Disputes, insecurity, disruptions to operations and weak community relationships can affect production, project timelines and investment returns.
HostComm™ will therefore examine how the HCDT framework can move beyond regulatory compliance to deliver measurable economic and social benefits while strengthening the industry’s social licence to operate.
A key area of discussion will be the deployment of the 3% of operating expenditure allocated to Host Community Development Trusts under the PIA. Participants are expected to explore how these funds can be channelled into bankable, sustainable and community-driven projects capable of generating lasting economic value.
The organisers said sustainable oil and gas development requires more than capital expenditure and physical infrastructure, stressing that trust, transparency, accountability and alignment between operators and host communities are equally critical to protecting investments and sustaining production.
The summit is consequently positioned as a national platform for bringing government, industry, communities and capital providers together to identify practical solutions to longstanding challenges in host community relations.
By strengthening collaboration and improving the effectiveness of host community development initiatives, HostComm™ aims to contribute to a more predictable operating environment, reduce investment risks and support the long-term competitiveness of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
