Host Communities of Nigeria Oil and Gas Producing areas (HOSTCOM) asked for the approval of the Nigerian Federal Government to give 50% of oil blocs in the Niger Delta region to oil and gas bearing communities, reported Leadership Newspaper.

According to Nigeria Today, the group has called for multinational oil companies to relocate to the communities’ geographies as demanded by the local content law.

HOSTCOM’s CEO, Comrade Festus Pemu, said: “At present none of the oil blocks is owned by an indigene of oil producing communities. There should be equity in the distribution of these oil blocs only one part of the country should not be favored. The Niger Delta as the goose that lays the golden eggs deserves its fair share in the distribution of the oil blocs.”

Pemu further stated: “We are appealing to the Federal Government to commence the direct payment of 15% derivation to the Host communities and the implementation of gas flare penalty levy as demanded by the international law.”