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Tag: PIB

  • NUPENG: Nigeria lost $200b to PIB in eight years

    Nigeria lost not less than $200billion in eight years to non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) has stated.

    Immediate national president of the union, Comrade Igwe Achese, stated this at the 4th quadrennial delegates’ conference held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital at the weekend.

    Achese said the delay has scared away foreign investors with plans of coming into the country to do business while some other existing companies shutdown operation.

    He called on President Muhammad Buhari to expedite actions in assenting to the bill for it to become effective for operation.

    Achese said: ”We commend the National Assembly for the passage of the governance aspect of the PIB. The Senate had earlier passed it last year while the House of Representatives followed suit in the 2018.

    “We are sure that the president shall assent to the bill as soon as practicable now that the National Assembly has harmornised it.

    “Our prayer is that it should be speeded up without further delay as the nation lost about $200 billion investment as a result of the delay in passing the bill in the last eight years.”

    He said the passage of the PIGB will “restore investors’ confidence and transparency in oil and gas sector of the economy and attractive business and employment to both the country and the unemployed Nigerians.”

    The former NUPENG president regretted some other critical aspects of the bill, especially those to do with the environment, finance and host communities were unattended to by the lawmakers.

    These omitted aspects, according to him, were equally important for the smooth operation of the aspect already passed.

    Comrade Williams Akporeha emerged president of the union.

    Other members elected are Solomon Kilanko and Bass Harry (Deputy Presidents).

    Alex Agwanwor was elected treasurer while Victoria Oyeleke emerged as the Chief Welfare Officer of the union.

    It was learnt the position of the union secretary is non-elective.

    In his goodwill message, President of the Nigerian Labour Union (NLC) Ayuba Waba called on the National Assembly to pass the minimum wage bill to improve the standard of living of workers.

    He also warned against agitations in some quarters to transfer workers issues to the concurrent legislative list, saying it would create problems that worker would not allow to happen.

    “If the issue of labour is taken to the concurrent list, it will create a lot of problems.  It is the state assemblies that will determine the minimum wage and not the national assembly.

    “If you do you should also consider allowing state police, allowing states control their resources and every state must conduct their elections amongst others.

    “You cannot transfer workers matter to the concurrent bill in isolation, any attempt Nigerian workers will revolt against it,” he threatened.

     

  • ‘PIB won’t solve Niger Delta issues’

    ‘PIB won’t solve Niger Delta issues’

    The Executive Director of Environmental Right Action, (ERA), Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo, has said that the  Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will not address issues of the Niger Delta region.

    Dr Ojo spoke at a one-day Civil Society and Host Communities workshop for the Southsouth,  in  Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

    He observed  that the bill does not specify what constitutes environmental infraction and other issues to address the lingering Niger Delta crisis.

    According to him,  the key elements that brought about agitation in the Niger Delta, such as oil spill clean up and gas flaring, is not reflected in the bill.

    In his view, the bill as presented, ” has not met  the major criteria to address the issues  it was met for such as the years of monumental devastation of the environment of Niger Delta, compensation, clean up and revenue allocation.

    “I want us to remember that this is a conflict resolution bill to address the years of monumental devastation of the environment of the Niger Delta. The bill will address the issue of environmental pollution,  the compensation, the clean up , the revenue allocation and how they are used in the development process and sadly this bill as presented has not met those criteria.

    “This bill is pro-industry and seem to reinstate the statuesque.  For example, the money to be receive are  to go directly first to the local government authority where we know that the State and the local government have no level of independence”

    “So that is a lacuna. The fact that the bill does not recognise local communities as the fundamental unity of planning is a flaw process, so we need to recognise that and ensure that the local government that need this should be dealt with directly”.

    “The petroleum host communities fund appear to override cooperate social  responsibility. The Secretary of the board is being proposed to be an oil company worker and that worker is also to be nominated by the oil company themselves”

    “So they have one way abrogated the power of control over the fund. They put the money out their with the aim to maintain their interest and also control the process.”

    He said the civil society organisation would come as a body to approach the National Assembly to address flaws in the bill.

  • PENGASSAN decries delayed passage of PIB

    PENGASSAN decries delayed passage of PIB

    Nigeria has lost much revenue and new investments due to the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), oil workers, under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have said.

    Speaking with The Nation,  PENGASSAN President Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson said the union would continue to collaborate with others to ensure that adverse labour clauses in the Bill are addressed before its passage.

    Olabode called on stakeholders, especially the government, to take co-ordinated steps to resolve some of the problems bedeviling the oil and gas industry.

    According to him, some of the issues that need urgent attention include  attacks on national assets, rehabilitation of refineries and other government-owned oil installations, anti-labour posture and practices of indigenous companies and marginal field operators, contract and casual staffing, infrastructural decay, national industrial relations crisis, among others.

    “We condemn the continuous attacks on national assets such as pipelines and other oil and gas installations in the  country, which has caused lots of incalculable damage to the national and industry’s revenue, demanding strong security strategies and use of modern equipment to end unnecessary crisis. He implored the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency and priority, carry out a comprehensive Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) in all the four state-owned refineries.

    Olabode  frowned at the anti-union posture of indigenous oil and gas companies and marginal field operators, and called on regulatory institutions and business partners (Ministry of Petroleum Resources Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), NAPIMS, International Oil Companies (IOCs), and Ministry of Labour and Employment to call such companies to order.

    He called on the government to urgently re-convene the Ministerial committee on contract and casual staffing, which was chaired by the Late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi, to address all issues on abuse of service contract provisions in the oil and gas industry.

    In a related event, PENGASSAN has called for united labour  to engage owing governors

    Johnson, who chided the governors for refusing to pay salaries of their workers despite the bail out received from the Federal Government, called on the  Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to lead the struggle in making  the governors pay their workers.

    He said though his union (PENGASSAN) operates in a very critical sector of the economic and the society, he assured that the union would use every power it has to support the TUC and the NLC in whatever step they take in fighting the battle.

  • Senate to pass PIB this quarter

    Senate to pass PIB this quarter

    The Senate will pass into law the remaining three parts of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) this quarter.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Tayo Alasoadura, said this at an oil and gas industry forum in Lagos.

    Alasoadura said:“We have successfully passed the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill into law. The remaining three – Petroleum Industry Administration Bill, Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill Petroleum Industry Host Community Bill have gone through the second reading. We expect to get the report back from the committees and will pass them into law within the next quarter.”

    According to him, the conference on research and development (R&D)organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is apt, especially when some major oil consuming countries have set deadlines to discontinue the use of petrol and diesel starting from 2030.

    “The last few years have demonstrated to us the importance to us in indigenising our R&D capabilities. The impact of a drastic reduction in oil price and the subsequent recession has taught us painful lessons. It has shown us how and why we need to be more resilient. To be resilient, we need to innovate and to innovate we need to make significant investment in R&D. That also means investing in our educational institutions so that we produce the graduates that will drive the economy.

    “This means investing continuously in the education of oil and gas sector professionals, improving our ability to develop the technology, systems and processes that will improve the deficiency of the sector’s operations. It is for this reasons that capital flight is so huge.

    “However, our major role as the legislative arm of government is to provide clear and sustainable legal frameworks that will provide a stable environment for businesses, allow for investment in infrastructure and manpower and facilitate businesses as well.”

    He noted that the current 8th Assembly came on board when the economy was challenged by low oil price and recession. The situation didn’t discourage us from attending to priority bills that the nation needed to boost the economy and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

    “It is for this reason that we decided to break the jinx over the PIB after being on the table for over a decade. We needed to break it into four parts for easy passage. We have successfully passed the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill into law and remaining three will be passed soon,”he said.

    He added: “The PIB establishes clear roles, regulations, procedures and institutions for efficient administration of petroleum industry in Nigeria, so it was key for us. It also stipulates guidelines for operations in upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.”

  • Stronger, larger petroleum industry regulator coming – FG

    Stronger, larger petroleum industry regulator coming – FG

    The federal government has hinted that a stronger, larger petroleum industry regulator will emerge after the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

    Speaking at one of the breakout sessions of the 2nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja Tuesday, Minister of state for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu said “we are still working to make it better, by the time the senate and the entire national assembly finishes what they are doing we are going to see a much stronger, a much larger independent regulator.”

    According to Kachikwu, “whatever model of PIB that we are pushing, the point that Dr Baru made is very, very key to see an independent regulator with very enormous powers, with less of political interference so that individuals could do their work and also whittling down the powers of the minister so that these institutions could work and work well.”

    Kachikwu noted that “the reality is that no one will work as a minister forever, you are going to hand over that portfolio. We should be looking for the system surviving and been able to work well, so it’s something that we are working with the Assembly very hard on and I think if you look at the issues that come up, there are a lot of emphasis on that independence.”

    Kachikwu also said “the federal government would develop Policies that ensures the global decline in fossil energy does not take Nigeria unawares, stating that government is already thinking in that direction.”

    Kachikwu who moderated a panel discussion on energy in a break out session with the Group Managing Director of NNPC Maikanti Baru said “the federal government is currently dealing with the fundamentals‎ of ensuring that the refineries work, and ensure availability of energy sources to meet our day to day energy needs.‎”

    Kachikwu noted that, “the NNPC would have to take over the commercial aspects because they are going to be the one deploying it. As the Refineries get kitted up, we would continue to look at new fossils development programmes, and will see a need to pump out policies that would enable Nigerians see the advantages in terms of costs.”

    Reacting to questions on the bidding for marginal fields, Kachikwu said “the government is determined to ensure transparency in the bidding process so that the public always gets to know who and who gets what and could monitor the progress.”

    ‎According to him, “‎these are some of the issues the Niger Delta communities are always inquiring about and indeed all Nigerians. The more transparent it is, the better for us. We are developing models to ensure better regulations geared towards transparency in the bidding process, and we would alert Mr. President as soon as we are done “Kachikwu notes further.‎”

    Maikanti Baru, the GMD of NNPC ‎ in his own remarks at the panel raised concern that only nine out 14 of those who won the bidding process for the marginal fields are operating a development he described as “not good.”

    He was however assured by the minister of state for petroleum, Ibe ‎Kachikwu that “the Ministry of Petroleum Resources would work closely towards ensuring that concerns and constraints that had hindered the remaining companies who have not swung into action in the marginal oil fields are appropriately addressed.”

  • ‘Passage of PIB ‘ll solve industry, economic woes’

    ‘Passage of PIB ‘ll solve industry, economic woes’

    The oil and gas industry, the nucleus of the economy, has been on the decline in the last three years. Major players in the industry such as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Wottnig Group Limited, Mr. Oluwole Richard Oyebade, says despite the slump in crude oil price in the global market and campaigns against fossil fuels, Nigeria can overcome her economic woes with or without oil. 

    Since 2014, the business environment has been tough for the oil industry as a result of crash in crude oil price, how has Wottnig Group been coping with the downturn?

    Wottnig is an oil and gas company that was started on July 5, 2012. It became a limited liability in June 2013. It’s an energy dominant company. We are an oil offshore logistics company and a downstream petroleum group. We provide security crew boat for offshore vessels and we trade in the petroleum downstream. We sell and distribute diesel, petrol, aviation fuel, lubricants and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

    Since 2014, the business environment has been really tough for the oil sector. We have been coping by increasing the quality of our products, embracing technology and reducing our manpower. We train and retrain all our employees and we double our steadfastness in the delivery of our products to our customers.

    We realise the importance of cutting cost in situations like this. That is the reason we had to reduce our manpower. It got to a point where we have to put majority of our staff on contracts, lay off others and retain those with high profitability, good performance and high character ethics level. We remain resolute to succeed despite all odds. We belong and we specialise in the downstream and offshore logistics. We will be taking more drastic steps to keep us afloat.

    What future does oil hold in the life of Nigerian economy?

    The future of oil in Nigeria is still very bright. Nigeria still depends on oil to drive the economy. Personally I think it is time for our government to support diversification of the economy. This will make many people gain more exposure, our goods to be exported and we make more money for the growth of the economy. Nigeria will prosper more if we can reduce our attention on oil as the lifeline of the economy.

    What are the implications for foreign investment considering some contentious provisions in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)?

    The PIB is one of the best things that has happened in our lifetime. Let me tell you, no other bill has been more popular since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999 than the current Petroleum Industry Bill. Maybe the freedom of information bill comes near. The reason is not far-fetched. Anything petroleum in Nigeria generates passionate interest. PIB is believed to be the master reference document that governs the Nigerian petroleum industry from the upstream through the midstream to downstream where Wottnig belongs (servicing, refining, distribution, transportation and marketing/retailing). Shortly after President Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office in his first term, he set up a committee called the oil and gas industry committee (OGIC), with a mandate to take a comprehensive look at Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and offer better ways of managing the industry. Obviously many of the laws and regulations guiding the industry had been around for long, some as far back as 1950. Although they had undergone amendments, the Federal Government considered it necessary to take a holistic review of the industry with a view to getting the best of it by all stakeholders.

    The (OGIC) was led by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Rilwanu Lukman, a veteran petroleum engineer and former Secretary-General of OPEC. The committee had other oil industry eggheads. The committee submitted its report and its recommendations formed the basis of Petroleum Industry Bill, which has since been subjected to further reviews and adjustments.

    What does PIB seek to achieve?

    The bill, among other things, seeks to create a conducive business environment for petroleum operations, enhance exploitations and exploration of petroleum resources in Nigeria for the benefit of Nigerians. In addition to that, the law seeks to optimise domestic gas supplies especially for power generation and industrial development. Also, the law will encourage investment in Nigeria’s petroleum industry; optimise government revenue, establish profit- driven oil entities, deregulate and liberalise the downstream sub-sect                                                                                              or, create efficient and effective regulatory agencies. The PIB seeks to promote the development of Nigerian content in the oil industry; protect health, safety and the environment in the petroleum operations.

    What are the implications or objectives of these for the industry?

    The key implications or objectives to note from the above would be the creation of more jobs for Nigerians as it will become illegal to employ foreigners for certain skills that can be sourced locally. Whereas in the past such skills are sourced from abroad with the pretence that qualified personnel are unavailable locally, giving room to make expatriates employed for jobs Nigerians can do. The above is applicable not only to skill but to material sourcing. The PIB when passed into law will also create more jobs for local contractors especially those from the oil producing regions. Gas is still under focus in Nigeria and the potential from this resource is still untapped. The PIB seeks to maximise these if well articulated and will also boost power supply in Nigeria.

    In the long run, government revenue from oil and gas extraction will increase. This means more funds in the hands of government to engage in development activities. The downstream sector will become fully deregulated. In other words, subsidy regime has to go. Subsidy removal is not totally bad, if there are no distortions to market.

    Governments globally are being pressured to foreclose fossil fuel development as a result of the attendant pollution, is Nigeria preparing for this?

    Environmental protection and what late Ken Saro-Wiwa and eco warriors and activists fought and died for cannot be wished away. It’s crucial to ensure that we do not destroy our environments as a result of oil exploration. I think the PIB has taken care of the initial grudges of the Niger Delta militants who want a fair share of the proceeds from oil.

  • Reduce agitation with PIB, say youths

    Following the October 1 quit notice that the Coalition of Northern Youths have given to the Igbo living in the north, the Youths from the South-South zone under the umbrella body of Oil & Solid Mineral Producing Area Landlords Association of Nigeria (OMPALAN) yesterday urged the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law to reduce agitation and restiveness of the different ethnic groups.

    The association also urged Federal Government to address the challenges in the solid minerals host communities for easy job creation that will bring peace and development.

    Condemning the notice in a statement that the youths signed and released to The Nation, they submitted that Nigeria needs now is “Peace and Unity” which is chief among the Vision & Mission of OMPALAN.

    The statement which the Leaders of the youths, Hon. Ngokanya, Benjamin and Captain John Victor Etim signed noted that the youths met in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The other members that were in attendance, according to the statement, were Hon. Benjamin Ngokanya , Captain John Victor Etim, Barr. Dave Owate Wokoma, Barr Favour Okokon, Mr. Dandy Loveday, Harry Aparama Kelvin, Envang. Benard Oluka, Jeff Nwafor

    Eric Dudu Obeta, Umeh Christian, and Hon Asukwo Effiong.

    The youths said that God has blessed every state of Nigeria with one mineral deposit or the other that the nation is yet to harness.

    They added that: “We therefore, implore the Federal Government to explore these rich and diverse endowments in order to create new jobs for sustainable development goals.

    “As key stakeholders who believe firmly in the Nigeria Project, the South South OMPALAN youths advocate for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) for the the host communities by the National Assembly which should equally be extended to solid mineral producing States so as to reduce youth restiveness and other forms of agitations that impede development as we believe that Nigeria can thrive and develop faster when the God-given natural resources impact host communities positively and commensurately.”

    The group commended acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for rising to the threat and suing for peace across the length and breath the country through the meetings with the 36 State Governors of the federation and leaders of the South East and Northern Nigeria.

    Continuing, the association’s youths said that: “We cannot blame the entire Igbo’s or South East region for the isolated actions of a tiny but, vocal group (ISOB and MASSOP) in much the same way the North East region cannot be blamed and penalized for the monumental destructions and killings occasioned by Boko Haram which has cost the tax payer in Nigeria trillions of Naira.

  • Reduce agitation with PIB – South south OMPALAN youths

    Reduce agitation with PIB – South south OMPALAN youths

    Following the October 1 quit notice that the Coalition of Northern Youths have given to the Igbo living in the north, the Youths from the South-South zone of our Country under the umbrella body of Oil & Solid Mineral Producing Area Landlords Association of Nigeria (OMPALAN) yesterday urged the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law to reduce agitation and restiveness of the different ethnic groups.

    The association also urged Federal Government to address the challenges in the solid minerals host communities for easy job creation that will bring peace and development.

    Condemning the notice in a statement that the youths signed and released to The Nation, they submitted that Nigeria needs now is “Peace and Unity” which is chief among the Vision & Mission of OMPALAN.

    The statement which the Leaders of the youths, Hon. Ngokanya, Benjamin and Captain John Victor Etim signed noted that the youths met in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The other members that were in attendance, according to the statement, were Hon. Benjamin Ngokanya, Captain John Victor Etim, Barr. Dave Owate Wokoma, Barr Favour Okokon, Mr. Dandy Loveday, Harry Aparama Kelvin, Envang. Benard Oluka, Jeff Nwafor Eric Dudu Obeta, Umeh Christian, and Hon Asukwo Effiong.
    The youths said that God has blessed every state of Nigeria with one mineral deposit or the other that the nation is yet to harness.

    They added that: “We, therefore, implore the Federal Government to explore these rich and diverse endowments in order to create new jobs for sustainable development goals.

    “As key stakeholders who believe firmly in the Nigeria Project, the South-South OMPALAN youths advocate for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) for the the host communities by the National Assembly which should equally be extended to solid mineral producing States so as to reduce youth restiveness and other forms of agitations that impede development  as we believe that Nigeria can thrive and develop faster when the God-given natural resources impact host communities positively and commensurately.”

    The group commended acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for rising to the threat and suing for peace across the length and breath the country through the meetings with the 36 State Governors of the Federation and leaders of the South East and Northern Nigeria.

    Continuing, the association’s youths said that: “We cannot blame the entire Igbo’s or South East region for the isolated actions of a tiny but, vocal group (ISOB and MASSOP) in much the same way the North East region cannot be blamed and penalized for the monumental destructions and killings occasioned by Boko Haram which has cost the taxpayer in Nigeria trillions of Naira.

    “No section of our nation can be seen or said to be greater than the entire Country, Nigeria. Our unity in diversity should be guarded jealously by every citizen of this great Country. As such, hate speeches and tribal threats will only help to destroy our unity and threaten constitutional peace.”

    The South-South youths “called on the coalition of northern youths to support the rule of law and shun disgruntled politicians who are working to truncate the hard-earned democratic experiment in Nigeria because this great Country belongs to everyone citizen of Nigeria especially the youths who will grow to take over the management of the Country.

    “We equally advise the IPOB and MASSOB to sheath the sword and be part of Nigeria’s indissoluble sovereignty and unity. Our refrain should be ‘One Nigeria! Every Nigerian’. OMPALAN stands for one united and sovereign Nigeria for every Nigerian in any part of Nigeria. We are willing to engage both the coalition of Northern Youths, IPOB, MASSOB and other aggrieved organisations in a dialogue to build peace development across the entire Country in order to strengthen corporate governance.

    “All forms of agitations and threats for secession across the Country should cease forthwith. Our political leaders and elders should come to a round table discussing without further delay to fashion a way forward for our dear Country and remove the fragile peace process from limbo aware that so many Countries are looking up to us for leadership and inspiration.

    “Finally, the S’South youths of OMPALAN requests the Presidency to convene a youth summit of major youth formations across Nigeria to drum support for the rule of law and douse the tension generated by the treasonable and shocking statement credited to the coalition of northern youths asking the Igbos to leave the north.

    “There is only one Nigerian Government with one constitution. The sit at home order and hate speeches only convey the treasonable message within Nigeria and beyond that, there are three parallel governments in the Country managed jointly by the Federal Government, the coalition of northern youths and secessionist movements.

    “This ugly development has dire consequences on national security and stability, especially in the nation’s oil fields. We expect the nation’s robust security agencies to deploy their arsenal effectively to bring the prevailing security threats that are burning like wildfire under control and guarantee the right of every law-abiding citizen of sovereign Nigeria to live and work in any part of the Country without fear or molestation.”

  • Ijaw elders demand immediate amendment of PIB

    • Dismiss bill as disdainful

    Ijaw leaders have dismissed the recently passed Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) as disdainful to the interests of host communities.

    They demanded for immediate amendment of the bill, saying it was in flagrant disregard of the welfare of oil and gas host communities.

    The Izon-Ebe Oil and Gas Producing Communities Association (IOGPCA), in a statement yesterday by its national president and spokesman, James Edoukumo and Richard Koremene respectively, condemned the passed bill.

    The group said the passed bill is totally opposed to the spirit of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) placed before the National Assembly 19 years ago.

    “In the original PIB, 2 percent was set aside for host communities. Surprisingly, it was removed from the PIGB.

    “On composition of governing board, no reference was made to host communities but that it will be composed by the President. Clear concession would have been accorded host communities,” the elders said.

    They referred the current Senate to recommendations of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) at the public hearings conducted by the 6th and 7th Senates during the prolonged debates on the PIB.

    The Ijaw stakeholders noted there were serious needs to immediately commence amendment process of the PIGB so that critical issues affecting the host communities would be adequately reflected.

    “We are not against restructuring the NNPC to be competitive but all we want is the original PIB, drafted on equity, fairness and justice.

    “Government is aware host communities have been deprived for decades, provoking violence in the Niger Delta.

    “A PIB with host communities at the heart, not a snobbish PIGB, is what’s best for all stakeholders and continued smooth oil and gas operations,” they stated.

     

  • Ijaw youths reject PIB as Senate passes Bill

    Ijaw youths yesterday disowned the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) recently passed into law by the Senate.

    The youths, under the auspices of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, said passing such a version of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) portrayed senators as insensitive lawmakers.

    In a statement by its spokesman Henry Iyalla, IYC said the PIGB, which failed to provide special funds for oil-producing communities, would not guarantee peace in the Niger Delta region.

    The statement said: “We condemn the show of insensitivity by the Nigerian Senate on the recent passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), which makes it clear that the only interest the government has in the Niger Delta region is control of its oil.

    “It is unfortunate that at a time we expect the government to show commitment in the development of the region, we have to contend with the celebration of an ill-conceived idea to divide the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into greed-driven mushroom bits.”

    IYC insisted that the only PIB that would ensure peace in the region and calm frayed nerves must include the Oil Communities Fund Act.

    The group said such Act would give Niger Delta residents a stake in the industry and provide avenues to alleviate their suffering.

    It added that without such funds, any governance structure put in place in the region would fail.

    IYC said: “It must be stated that for oil and gas-related activities to operate smoothly within the Niger Delta region, the National Assembly, which is saddled with the responsibility of law-making, should immediately take further steps for the quick passage of the Host Community Bill.

    “This is to guarantee 10 per cent of the net profit of upstream oil companies on onshore areas and offshore shallow areas to the community.

    “Otherwise, the Niger Delta region would see the recent passage of the PIGB as a calculated move aimed at making laws for the smooth governance of exploitation and exploration of the abundant oil reserve within the region without any consideration for host communities.

    “IYC would not be part of a divide-and-rule method of governance within the oil and gas operations in the region.

    “It should be known by all relevant arms of government that the singular passage of the PIGB will not deliver the full benefits of the intended reforms except the other aspects of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) are legislated upon.

    “The passage of the complete Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is the only guarantee for a smooth and conducive operational environment in Niger Delta, as the people of the region cannot guarantee conducive operational base without the protection of their interest.”