Civil rights activist and lawyer Eric Omare has said that the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which President Muhammadu Buhari, recently sent to the National Assembly does not address the apprehensions of the oil producing/gas producing communities of Niger Delta region and should be rejected. Omare, a former president of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, in a statement, asserted: “I also call on the National Assembly to reject the oppressive and provocative bill. The bill instead of bringing succor to the host communities would lead to instability and fresh agitations in the oil producing communities. Men of conscience must stand up and reject this evil attempt to further subjugate the oil producing communities.”
“It would be recalled that the PIB submitted under the administration of the late President Yar’Adua provided for 10 percent of oil companies profit for the development of host communities. The percentage contribution under the PIB submitted to the National Assembly under President Yar’Adua was a more progressive attempt towards addressing some of the concerns of host communities, while the 2.5 per cent under the present President Buhari’s PIB is a retrogressive and provocative attempt. “The 2.5 percent of oil companies operational cost provided as a yearly contribution by oil companies in the bill is grossly insufficient. I, therefore, call on the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta region to totally reject the vexatious and retrogressive provisions of the PIB in relation to the development of host communities.” “The bill is at best an attempt at internal colonialism of oil producing/gas communities of the Niger Delta region.
It has not only failed in addressing the aged-longed demands of the people of the oil producing communities, but attempts to impose foreign leadership on the people of the oil producing communities, who, over the years, have ruled over their internal affairs even before oil was discovered in those communities,” he added. Omare stated: “A careful reading of the provisions of sections 234 to 257 of the bill dealing with host communities’ development under chapter three of the bill leaves much to be desired. Among other obnoxious provisions, the bill seeks to empower oil producing companies to solely appoint and remove board of trustees for the management of funds contributed for the development of the host communities. “In addition, the oil companies are also empowered to appoint people from outside the oil producing communities into the board of trustees and management committee to manage funds meant for the development of host communities. In effect, an oil company can appoint someone from Maiduguri or Kano to be on the board of trustees or management committee to manage funds to develop Ogulagha, Gbaramtu, Egbema, Ogbe-Ijoh, Ugborodo, Uzere, Okpai, Tai, Eket, Gbarain, Nembe, Oben, Gbokoda communities of the Niger Delta region.
“This is not only senseless, illogical, but also provocative. It is an attempt at creating another NDDC for the different Niger Delta communities that would be consumed by politics and not achieve anything. “In the first place, there is no basis to empower oil companies to appoint trustees and management committee members for the management of community development funds. The oil producing communities have established governance structures to manage their affairs. Also, the oil companies have been at the forefront of the oppression of the host communities over the years. “So how can such entities be empowered by legislation to determine people who govern over the affairs of the host communities? Also, what justifies the provision in the bill for persons from outside the oil producing communities to be appointed as trustees and management committee members? Are there no competent people with integrity in the host communities to manage the affairs of host communities?” He said.