Host communities in the Niger Delta Region have kicked against some provisions of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB); stressing that the bill as it is does not reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
Speaking during a town hall meeting organised by Civil Society Organizations in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, the stakeholders said the current bill did not only fail to address the concerns of impacted communities; but also gave undue powers to Multinationals to decide the composition of the Host Community Trust Fund Board.
The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is one contentious piece of legislation that began its journey with the inauguration of the Oil and Gas Reform Committee on 24th April 2000.
The bill seeks to establish guildlines for the operation of the upstream and downstream sectors; but regrettably, the bill is yet to be passed twenty years on.
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The Stakeholders called on a holistic review of the bill for it to effectively address the concerns of host communities before it can be passed by the National Assembly and signed into law.
Editor: Omor Bazuaye
