New PIB elicits controversy as Clark says it's satanic

Mon, Jul 5, 2021

By editor

3 MIN READ

THE Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which was passed by the National Assembly last week after more 16 years it has been in the pipeline is still generating controversy. While industry stakeholders at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and gas conference in Abuja, lauded the bill, the Niger Delta chieftains have vowed to resisted the bill.

Different speakers led by Simbi Wabote, executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, NCDMD, led the chorus of cheers and clapping for the legislatures for passing the bill, the Niger Deltans led by Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, described recently Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, passed by the National Assembly as satanic, unjust, embarrassing, and has dashed the hope of the people from the region.

Wabote said that passing the bill was a way forward and that no excuse can now be given by oil companies as to why cannot now invest in the industry. His statement is against the backdrop of reasons, the international oil company used to give for no new investment in the country because of uncertainty on the fiscal regime, community involvement among other issues which bugged down the PIB.

However, Clark, who is also the leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, condemned the provision and allocation of 30% of profits for further frontier oil exploration in the north, saying that it was fraudulently added.

Clark, who was represented at a press conference in Abuja, by Ken Robinson, PANDEF’s national publicity secretary, declared that the region has had enough of the colonial oppression and will be resisting it.

Clark said the passed PIB does not reflect the long clamour by the people of the region for equity, fairness and justice.

He warned that Niger Delta will take their destinies in their hands and deny International Oil Companies, IOCs, entry into the region should the National Assembly failed to reverse the passed bill.

He said, “Given the depth of ingratitude expressed and delivered after decades of exploitation and neglect of the region, the entire people of the Niger Delta region, for and on behalf of the host communities, vehemently reject the following aspects of the bill: the 3% and 5% of Operating Expenditure granted to the Host Communities; the fraudulent and provocative 30% provision for the Frontier Exploration Fund.

“And now demand: the PIB must be reversed, reviewed and amended to ensure that the Oil-Bearing Communities must now receive not less than 10% of Operating Cost.

“If this is not done, the Niger Delta people may be forced to take their destiny into their own hands and all IOCs may find themselves denied access to their oil activities in such communities.”

– July 5, 2021 @ 3.21 GMT |