Vox Pop
THE Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which passed the second reading on the floor of the Senate last week, has generated a lot of controversies among Nigerians. Some people are of the opinion that the host communities do not deserve the percentage of fund provided in the bill for the development of their areas, while others believe that the percentage is not even enough. Below are what Nigerians think about the fund for the host communities.
Ogana Ikechukwu, Businessman: The percentage is too small. I’m from Delta State and I’m a in position to tell you what the people are passing through. What is 10 percent compared to the suffering we face in our communities because we have oil? Some of these communities lack social amenities like drinking water, access road, electricity among others. Government should increase the percentage to something reasonable.
John Ani, Banker: They deserve it. People from the Niger Delta have suffered enough from environmental pollution to health implications associated with oil exploration. It is a good development and I’m sure it would help in developing their communities. There is nothing government will give to these people that will be too much for them, they deserve all the attention. They need all the social amenities to enable them live a healthy and comfortable live.
Solomon Uche, Civil Servant: The PIB is a delicate issue. To me, what we should be talking about is whether the National Assembly will pass the bill or not. For now, discussing the percentage of fund given to the host communities in the bill in the midst of all these drama and revelations trailing the bill is unnecessary. I think it would affect the passage of the bill.
Chima Anyanwu, Administrator: They deserve more than that and the percentage is small compared to the damage the communities are passing through. But my worry is not on the percentage but on the judicious use of the fund. You know this country very well; this fund will still end up in the hands of the elites in the host communities. My opinion is that government should also make provisions on how the fund will be used to improve the lives of the host communities.
Otita Godwin, Corps Member: The fund is too small. You have to visit these communities to see what they are passing through. The federal government should increase the fund to either 30 or 40 percent, to enable these people develop their communities.
Yahaya Bargaje, Computer Programmer: It’s a welcome development in those communities because it would contribute in improving their living condition. But government should set up committees that would supervise the usage of the funds for the development of the communities.
Compiled by Anayo Ezugwu
— Mar. 25, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT
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