Oil Producing States Seek Quick Passage of PIB Into Law

Daily Champion

8 March 2011

Oil Producing States Seek Quick Passage of PIB Into Law

Yenagoa — Nine Oil-Producing States in the country have urged the National Assembly to ensure the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill PIB into law.

The Oil Producing state also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for urging the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill into law, including the ten percent clause contained in the bill.

National President of the Association of Community Leaders of the Nine Oil-Producing States in Nigeria, Ishmael Frank-Oputu, spoke to Newsmen in Yenagoa during a media briefing by the association at the NUJ Secretariat.

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Frank-Oputu, noted that Jonathan's action had confirmed his readiness to alleviate the plight of impoverished oil-bearing communities, insisted that the current derivation principle had not taken them out of the woods.

He called for the inclusion of the 10 percent clause in the PIB, pointing out that it would give the oil-producing communities whose land, water and air had been rapidly polluted by the activities of multinational oil companies, a sense of belonging.

Frank-Oputu urged the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the bill, adding that if passed, funds released by the federal government would be managed by the communities to accelerate the development.

He appealed to the federal government to review the activities and mandates of the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs with a view to meeting the yearnings of the Niger Delta and spelling out their operations to avoid duplication of projects in communities