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Tag: Petroleum industry bill

  • PIB: Untold story of how Reps were not given copies of report

    PIB: Untold story of how Reps were not given copies of report

    …as Senators approve $500m for host communities annually

    ….Reps lament inability to actively participate

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    Many members of the House of Representatives were on Thursday denied from actively participating in the consideration and adoption of the Petroleum Industry Bill PIB as they were not given copies of the report.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reliably gathered that the lawmakers were peeved when they discovered that only a few copies were made available.

    This development prompted one of the lawmakers, Hon Sergius Ogun, a PDP Rep to approach the House Committee Chairman on PIB , Hon Tahir Monguno to demand for a copy.

    Ogun told TNG that “all the lawmakers within the axis I was seated had no copies so we were just watching as the clauses were being considered”.

    TNG further gathered that the affected lawmakers have to get the roots of the matter and adequately address why they were denied copies.

    Meanwhile, the Senate approved $500 million dollars as funding for oil producing communities in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    This was revealed by Senator Mohammed Sabo the chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream.

    According to him, the half a billion dollars would be from the three per cent approved funds for the Host Communities Trust Fund.

    Sabo who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday said; “As at today, what is going to the host communities is three per cent. And three per cent translates to over half a billion dollars annually. This is a lot of money.

    “The bill (PIB) came with two point five per cent recommendation and the committee recommended five per cent.

    There were series of consultations we have to look at 2.5 per cent and five per cent.

    You have to look at the quantum of money involved. After being briefed and further explanations, we discovered that 3 three per cent will adequately be in order in this circumstances.

  • PIB: Host communities to receive $500m annually – Senate

    PIB: Host communities to receive $500m annually – Senate

    Host communities will receive half a billion dollars annually, as funding from the three per cent approved for Host Communities Trust Fund in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Senate has said.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Sen. Mohammed Sabo said this when he briefed newsmen on Thursday shortly after the senate passed the PIB.

    Sabo said although the committee initially recommended five per cent to the host communities, but after consultations, discovered that three per cent would adequately take care of the communities.

    “As at today, what is going to the host communities is three per cent. And three per cent translates to over half a billion dollars annually. This is a lot of money.

    “The bill came with two point five per cent recommendation and the committee recommended five per cent.

    “There were series of consultations we have to look at 2.5 per cent and five per cent.
    “You have to look at the quantum of money involved. After being briefed and further explanations, we discovered that 3 three per cent will adequately be in order in this circumstances.

    “The law is not infinite. In two months, anybody can bring an amendment and we will look at it.
    “We need to encourage investors to come in. The more people come to invest, the more you get three per cent,” he said.

    Sabo who is also Chairman, Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) Petroleum (Upstream) and Gas further said the Bill was geared toward attracting more investments to the country.

    “Some decades ago, we find it is only in Nigeria that we have oil but now we have it in Ghana, Togo and Chad.

    “So if you don’t provide the incentives for investors to come in, they will go to other places and that is what has been happening.

    “So our attempt in the PIB is to capture all these areas and to synergise and provide incentives for investors to come in,” he said.

    Also speaking, Chairman Senate Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Sen. Albert Bassey described the passage of the bill as a welcome development.

    “We have made a bold statement to the global oil and gas industry that Nigeria is ready as a preferred destination for global oil and gas investment.

    “Today, we also broke the jinx of over two decades. We have passed a bill that will be easily implementable, that will attract global competitiveness and will attract the much desired investment in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria,” he said.

  • PIB: Omo-Agege, Manager, Sekibo try in vain to persuade Senate to increase contributions to host communities

    PIB: Omo-Agege, Manager, Sekibo try in vain to persuade Senate to increase contributions to host communities

    Efforts by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) and other Niger Delta Senators to demand for an upward review of contributions by oil companies to host communities of the Niger Delta region on Thursday met a brick wall from lawmakers.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Senate passed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) during Thursday’s plenary, and approved 3 percent contributions by oil companies to host communities.

    The upper chamber reviewed downward a Joint Committee’s recommendation that 5 percent be paid as contribution to the host community development fund.

    Senators in the majority voted for 3 percent contribution to the host communities, following an amendment to Clause 240(2) by Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina North), which was seconded by Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto East).

    The approval of 3 percent for host communities represents an upward review of 0.5 percent from the previous 2.5 percent contribution to the host community development fund.

    Efforts by Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central), Senators James Manager (PDP, Delta South), George Thompson Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East), and Albert Bassey Akpan (PDP, (PDP, Akwa-Ibom North East) to demand an upward review met a brick wall from lawmakers.

    Sekibo, in a move to sustain his agitation for an increase in contributions to host communities, relied on Order 73 of the Senate Rule and called for a division.

    However, Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North) prevailed on Sekibo to withdraw his call for division, and reminded him of the commitment of Senators of the Ninth Assembly in fostering unity while keeping in mind their obligation at all times to protect the national interest.

    The Senate Leader’s plea was accompanied by a subtle reaction from the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who reminded Sekibo of the overwhelming support demonstrated by lawmakers who had earlier approved that host communities receive remediation and relief from monies accruing from gas flaring in the PIB.

    Sekibo at this point withdrew his earlier call for division.

    TNG reports the Senate recorded a historic feat on Thursday with the passage of the complete version of the PIB, which defied passage in previous assemblies over the last twenty years.

    The bill was passed after a clause-by-clause consideration of a report by the Joint Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector; Petroleum Resources (Upstream); and Gas on the PIB.

    The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Sabo Muhammed Nakudu, delivered a presentation on the Committee’s report moments before the upper chamber held a closed session to receive briefing by the Petroleum Minister, Timipre Sylva, and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari.

    The closed session which started at 11:10am ended at 12:40pm.

    In his presentation, the lawmaker said that the Petroleum Industry Bill consists of five distinct chapters which include Governance and Institutions; Administration; Host Communities Development; Petroleum Industry Fiscal Framework; and Miscellaneous Provisions comprising 319 clauses and 8 schedules.

    According to him, the bill’s passage and eventual assent into law would strengthen accountability and transparency of NNPC limited as a full-fledged company under statutory/regulatory oversight with better returns to its shareholders – the Nigerian people.

    He added that the Joint Committee’s recommendation on Frontier Basins recognized the need for Nigeria to explore and develop the country’s frontier basins to take advantage of the foreseeable threats to the funding of fossil fuel projects across the world due to speedy shift to alternative energy sources.

    During a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, the upper chamber approved the funding mechanism of thirty percent of NNPC limited’s oil and gas profit in the production sharing, profit sharing, and risk service contracts to fund exploration of frontier basins.

    It also approved Clause 4 of the bill which seeks the establishment of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission to provide technical regulatory functions that would enforce, administer and implement laws, regulations and policies relating to upstream petroleum operations.

    The Commission would, among others, ensure compliance with applicable national and international petroleum industry policies, standards and practices for upstream petroleum operations; and establish, monitor, regulate and enforce health, safety and environmental measures and standards relating to upstream petroleum operations.

    In addition, the upper chamber while adopting the Committee’s recommendation to retain provisions in Clause 29 of the bill, approved the establishment of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

    Clause 29(3) empowers the Authority to be responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of midstream and downstream petroleum operations in the petroleum industry in Nigeria.

    Its function include implementing Government policies for midstream and downstream petroleum operations as directed by the Minister; and to promote, establish and develop a positive environment for international and domestic investment in midstream and downstream petroleum operations.

    Others are to ensure strict environmental implementation of policies, laws and regulations for midstream and downstream petroleum operations; and to develop and enforce a framework on tariff and pricing for natural gas and petroleum products.

    The recommendation of the Joint Committee was amended in Clause 52(7d) to ensure that all monies received from gas flaring be channeled for the purpose of environmental remediation and relief of the host communities as against the development of infrastructure in midstream gas operations.

    The upper chamber, however, retained the recommendation of the Joint Committee in Clause 53 which empowers the Minister of Petroleum Resources to incorporate the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation as a limited liability company to be known as NNPC Limited, six months after the commencement of the Act.

    Accordingly, the adopted Clause 53 mandates the Minister of Petroleum Resources at the incorporation of NNPC Limited, to consult with the Minister of Finance to determine the number and nominal value of the shares to be allotted, which would form the initial paid-up share capital of NNPC Limited.

    Consequently, the Senate approved ownership of all shares in NNPC Limited to be vested in the Government at incorporation and held by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated on behalf of the Government.

    The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks after the eventual passage of the PIB, congratulated the Ninth Assembly and Joint Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector; Petroleum Resources (Upstream); and Gas for the “tremendous and historical achievement of passing the long awaited Petroleum Industry Bill.”

    According to him, the passage of the PIB was an indication that the “demon” behind its non-passage in the past had been finally defeated.

    He added, “I must commend the leadership of the House of Representatives, too, for providing leadership to ensure that our Joint Committees in the Senate and the House work together to produce the report that we have just passed.

    “Let me say that the Ninth Senate and, indeed, the Ninth National Assembly has achieved one of its fundamental items on the legislative agenda.

    “We promised Nigerians that we will do our best to pass the PIB that has defied passage or defied assent. At least, the demons are being defeated in this chamber.”

    Lawan appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to give expeditious assent to the bill when it is eventually forwarded to him by the National Assembly.

    The Senate, thereafter, adjourned plenary till next week Tuesday, the 6th of July, 2021.

    Meanwhile, the House of Representatives during it’s Thursday plenary adopted the report on PIB for passage at the Committee of the Whole.

    The Executive bill, which sought to reform the oil and gas sector and ensure its governance met with best global standards, was presented by the Chairman of House Committee on PIB, Rep. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno).

    TNG reports following the adoption of the report, the bill will now be scheduled for third reading and final passage by the House.

    Presenting the report, Monguno said that the PIB had suffered lots of setbacks in the parliament since its introduction in 2000.

    He said that the bill sought to address the very core aspect of the nation’s economy which largely depended on the oil and gas sector.

    “The bill also seeks to unbundle the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) so that it will become NNPC limited and for it to be run commercially,” he said.

    The lawmaker said that the bill, when passed into law, would ensure transparency in the oil and gas sector by addressing the challenges facing the sector through various funding that would be put in place.

    Monguno also said that the bill would attract investors and ensure competitiveness in the oil and gas sector in line with world best practices.

    Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, who presided over the session, read out the 318 clauses of the bill and members voted in support.

    In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, commended the lawmakers for their cooperation and for adopting the report.

    He said that history would remember them positively for adopting the report which has eluded the parliament for many years as a result of various interests.

    Gbajabiamila also announced that the Electoral Amendment Bill would come up for consideration and adoption next week before the house embark on its 2021 long vacation on July 14.

  • PIB: Reps adopt committee report, schedule bill for third reading and final passage

    PIB: Reps adopt committee report, schedule bill for third reading and final passage

    The House of Representatives on Thursday adopted the report on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) for passage at the Committee of the Whole.

    The Executive bill, which sought to reform the oil and gas sector and ensure its governance met with best global standards, was presented by the Chairman of House Committee on PIB, Rep. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno).

    Following the adoption of the report, the bill will now be scheduled for third reading and final passage by the House.

    Presenting the report, Monguno said that the PIB had suffered lots of setbacks in the parliament since its introduction in 2000.

    He said that the bill sought to address the very core aspect of the nation’s economy which largely depended on the oil and gas sector.

    “The bill also seeks to unbundle the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) so that it will become NNPC limited and for it to be run commercially,” he said.

    The lawmaker said that the bill, when passed into law, would ensure transparency in the oil and gas sector by addressing the challenges facing the sector through various funding that would be put in place.

    Monguno also said that the bill would attract investors and ensure competitiveness in the oil and gas sector in line with world best practices.

    Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, who presided over the session, read out the 318 clauses of the bill and members voted in support.

    In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, commended the lawmakers for their cooperation and for adopting the report.

    He said that history would remember them positively for adopting the report which has eluded the parliament for many years as a result of various interests.

    Gbajabiamila also announced that the Electoral Amendment Bill would come up for consideration and adoption next week before the house embark on its 2021 long vacation on July 14.

    Meanwhile, the Senate passed the PIB during Thursday’s plenary, following approval of recommendations of the report of the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum, (Downstream,) Petroleum (Upstream) and Gas.

    Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee, Sen. Mohammmed Sabo (APC-Jigawa) said the bill consisted of five distinct and logically connected chapters.

    Sabo listed the chapters to include governance and institutions, administration, host communities development, petroleum industry fiscal framework and miscellaneous provisions, comprising 319 clauses and eight schedules.

    He said the committee carried out its assignment effectively and conducted a public hearing to collate inputs from critical stakeholders and the Nigerian people.

    Sabo said the committee reviewed the bill and all the memoranda submitted by stakeholders during the public hearing adding that the committee also embarked on on-the-spot assessments of impacted oil exploration communities.

    This, he said was to critically examine issues raised by Senators during the second reading of the bill and consulted widely on the justifications for passing the bill into Law.

    Sabo said the bill when passed into law “will strengthen accountability and transparency of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) Ltd as a full-fledged CAMA company under statutory and regulatory oversight with better returns to its shareholders and the Nigerian People’’.

    On the Frontier Basins, he said the committee’s recommendation recognised the need for the country to explore and develop the country’s frontier basins.

    This, he said was to take advantage of the foreseeable threats to the funding of fossil fuel projects across the world due to speedy shift from fossil fuel-to other alternative energy sources.

    “To this end, the committee recommends funding mechanism of 30 per cent of NNPC Ltd profit oil and profit gas as in the production sharing, profit sharing, and risk service contracts to fund exploration of frontier basins,” Sabo said.

    On host communities’ development, he said` `to ensure adequate development of the host communities and reduction in the cost of production, the Joint Committee recommends five per cent of the actual annual operating expenditure of the preceding financial year in the upstream petroleum operations affecting the host communities for funding of the Host Communities Trust Fund”.

    According to him, in the past 10 years, the country has only attracted less than five per cent of the over 100 billion dollars capital investment inflow into Africa’s oil and gas industry.

    He added that all stakeholders were in total support of the passage of the bill as there was no dissenting voice opposing its passage.

    He described the bill as laudable and commendable saying that its passage would bring the long awaited change in the oil and gas industry.

    However, Sen.Ahmed Baba Kaita (APC-Kastina) moved a motion for the reduction of funding of host community trust fund to 3 per cent as against the 5 per cent earlier recommended by the committee.

    The motion which was adopted, resulted in dissenting views by senators James Manager(PDP-Delta),Bassey Akpan (PDP-Cross-River), George Sekibo (PDP-Rivers) among others.

    Sekibo, having cited order 17 of the Senate rule, called for division to contest the decision to reduce funding of host community trust fund to 3 per cent.

    However, Leader of the Senate, Abdullahi Yahaya (APC- Kebbi) said the call for division was not in the interest of the Senate and the nation, describing the situation as heading for “Armageddon.”

    He called for a withdrawal of the call for a division in the Senate, saying that the senate in its two years of existence had worked in a peaceful and a bipartisan manner.

    Manager urged the Senate to increase the funding for host community trust fund given the economic contributions of the people of Niger-Delta over the years.

    According to him, no amount is too small for the people of the region.

    President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan, prevailed on Sen. George Sekibo to rescind his earlier call for division.

    “The Senate expects President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the PIB after harmonisation with the House of Representatives,” he said.

    The PIB is an omnibus law, meant to regulate the entire sphere of the industry and repeal all current existing oil and gas legislation.

    It struggled to see the light of day in spite of its introduction to the National Assembly over 16 years ago.

  • BREAKING: Senate, Reps pass Petroleum Industry Bill

    BREAKING: Senate, Reps pass Petroleum Industry Bill

    The Senate has passed the Petroleum Industry Bill known as PIB.

    The bill was passed during the plenary on Thursday after careful consideration of each of the clauses.

    The Senate before passing the bill met behind closed doors with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari.

    The passage of the bill comes exactly 13 years after it was first presented to the National Assembly in 2008.

    On 28 September 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari presented the PIB to the National Assembly for reconsideration.

    The Bill seeks to introduce changes to the governance, administrative, regulatory, and fiscal framework of the Nigerian oil and gas industry, in order to ensure transparency, strengthen the governing institutions, and attract investment capital, among other objectives.

    Senate President Ahmed Lawan said the Senate expects President Buhari to sign the bill as soon as it is transmitted.

    He added that the bill got the input of both the executive and legislative arms of government.

    The Senate then adjourned till July 6, 2021.

    Drama as Reps finally adopt report

    The House of Representatives on Thursday finally adopted the report of the House Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill, otherwise known as PIB despite rumblings from the opposition.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the consideration of PIB by the House of Representatives took a dramatic twist as lawmakers were denied the opportunity to make contribution on it.

    The deputy speaker, Idris Wase apparently reading a prepared script waved all the shouts of point of ‘order’ by opposition lawmakers as APC lawmakers started shouting carried as the DS reads out the clauses.

    All attempts by Hon Sergius Ogun to convince PIB chairman committee Hon Tahir Monguno fell on deaf ears as the shouts of ‘order’ and carried rent the air.

    The drama however started when immediately after PIB committee chairman finished his presentation, the DS who midwifed the Committee of the Whole after Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila stepped down for him started reading the clauses.

    No lawmaker was allowed to input anything and this didn’t go down well with opposition lawmakers who felt the age long tradition of at least giving them the opportunity to say one or two things was not followed.

    This led to a rowdy session as PDP Reps were busy shouting point of order, APC members also were shouting carried as the DS reels out the 319 clauses.

    Except for Clause 240 SS2 that was deleted as pointed out by the PIB chairman all the clauses were carried.

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila hailed the committee and promised that the Electoral Act Amendment Bill too will be treated before the annual recess .

  • PIB passage will not go beyond June – Sylva

    PIB passage will not go beyond June – Sylva

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva says that efforts to ensure passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the National Assembly are still on course.

    Sylva made this known at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

    “I want to tell you that PIB is fully on course and we are very happy because we have focused on that for a long time and we had many meetings with the National assembly and stakeholders.

    “Today, I believe that we are all basically satisfied with where we are.

    “The National Assembly has given a timeline, they actually gave April but a few things, but give or take, I still believe that the passage of the PIB will not go beyond June.

    “We are hopeful that between now and June, they will pass the PIB, I don’t think we are faraway with the passage of the PIB,’’ he said.

    Commenting on subsidy, he said that the common man is worse hit with subsidy, but usually the one that fights government anytime it is said it would be removed.

    He said subsidy had created opportunity for people to transport products to nearby countries to make more profit as the price is high in those places.

    “People are ready to take all kinds of risk to transfer products to places like Benin Republic. So when the prices are at par, it might help to reduce some of these risks,’’ he said.

    He noted that until Nigeria bridges the price differentials in the pump price of petrol, people would continue to take all risks to smuggle the product.

    “The price differential is a major incentive for smuggling that is why until we are able to bridge that gap, people will continue to do that.

    “ Because, it is very difficult for government to police all the border of Nigeria,’’ he said

    He said government had exhibited political will and commitment to announce deregulation for the downstream sector March 2020.

    He urged Nigerians to support government’s efforts to ensure full deregulation of the sector for economic growth and development.

    “The truth is that the common is not benefiting from the subsidy,’’ he said.

  • Passage of Petroleum Industry Bill shifted to May

    Passage of Petroleum Industry Bill shifted to May

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the National Assembly would pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Electoral Amendment Bill in May and June, respectively.

    Lawan stated this while playing host to visiting UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, and other officials in Abuja.

    He said that the national assembly was doing its best to ensure that the PIB was passed expeditiously.

    “The National Assembly is working tirelessly to ensure that we pass the PIB which is a very important piece of legislation for our country.

    “This time around we have devised different means and ways of ensuring that it is not only passed by the parliament but it is assented to by the President.

    “Our belief is that we have long been working together with the executive arm of government to ensure that we don’t leave any gaps that will engender unnecessary controversy between us on the bill and so far it has been paying off.

    “The bill is on its final journey into the Senate and the House of Representatives chambers for consideration.

    “We are expecting that by the first week of May, we will be able to receive the report of our committee on the PIB. Our design and desire is that we are able to pass the bill before the end of May,” he said.

    The senate president said that the lawmakers believe it was also the position of the House of Representatives that they are able to pass the bill simultaneously.

    “We think that this is one legislation that will change the economic fortune of our country because it will make a huge difference in our earnings from petroleum resources that we are endowed with.

    “But we also believe that this is one piece of legislation that will give significant or sufficient incentives to the oil companies, especially the International Oil Companies(IOCs) doing business in Nigeria.

    “On the Electoral Amendment Bill, we have been working on that. It is also our programme, we will be able to pass it before we go on summer break. We are hopeful that we will be able to pass the bill before the end of June,” Lawan said.

    Earlier, the visiting UK minister indicated interest in the progress made by the National Assembly on some Bills such as the Electoral Reforms Bill and PIB.

    He also sought to have a view of the Senate Chamber to know the differences and similarities with the British parliamentary chamber.

  • PIB: Nigeria remains best place to invest- Expert

    PIB: Nigeria remains best place to invest- Expert

    Prof. Wumi Iledare, a Professor of Petroleum Economics, says Nigeria remains best investment destination with effective fiscal framework in the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    Iledare disclosed this at an Education Series for Media on reforming the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, in Lagos, on Wednesday.

    He said that the proposed PIB remained a varitable tool to ensure needed reform of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

    He said that the time for government to make sacrifice for the sector to grow was now as the sector required huge investment to help transform the economy of the country.

    He said a good fiscal framework must be flexible to change with trend to help bring the desired investments.

    Iledare, former president of Nigeria Association of Energy Economics (NAEE), urged the media to ensure proper education of Nigerians on the importance of the bill.

    “Most countries are focusing on energy transition and if we do not ensure good policy that will drive investment, our oil will be a waste to us.

    “We need an effective policy for the sector to enable the country to effectively use oil revenue to develop other sectors of the economy

    “We need to create business hub to grow our economy, this is what PIB will facilitate when passed into law, ” he added.

    Also, Mr Israel Aye, an energy expert, also said that without good fiscal and legal framework, no investment would be made in the sector

    He said that no investor would invest in a place of uncertainty, adding that none would also want to invest where it would incure loses.

  • #TNGPIBConfab: AIT to provide live coverage as discussants proffer solutions to delay in PIB passage

    #TNGPIBConfab: AIT to provide live coverage as discussants proffer solutions to delay in PIB passage

    Confirmed. Africa Independent Television will provide live coverage of the #TNGPIBConfab holding on ZOOM on 10th March, 2021.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG), Nigeria and Africa’s leading online news platform and Africa Independent Television (AIT) have joined hands in partnership to hold a one-day colloquium on the fate of the Petroleum Industry Bill (Register for event here).

    Entitled, ‘PIB: finally getting it right and breaking the 20-year hiatus’, the event which is to hold on March 10, 2021, (Time: 11am-2pm) is a virtual experience designed to find solutions to the intractable problem of enacting a new, mutually beneficial petroleum industry law in Nigeria.

    According to TNG publisher, Mideno Bayagbon who is the Chief Host of the event, the focus of the summit is to end the seemingly intractable problem of enacting a new, mutually beneficial petroleum industry law which will transform the industry and put in place firm roadmaps for the federal government, industry operators and the communities and states of the Niger Delta.”

    He added: “TNG, as a critical voice in the petroleum industry sector and in the Niger Delta, recognizing the new spirited attempt by the 9th Assembly to break the jinx and pass the bill, has decided to bring together all the critical stakeholders and authorities in the federal government, National Assembly, petroleum industry, governors of the Niger Delta states and host communities to chart a supportive pathway to enable the National Assembly finally pass the bill for the President’s assent.”

    The virtual event which will be streamed on Africa Independent Television (AIT), Zoom and Youtube is structured into two segments with former Governor, Akwa Ibom state, Obong Victor Attah and Former Senate President/ex-Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Pius Anyim standing as chairmen of the respective sessions.

    The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege and the former governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor are expected to deliver the keynote address at on the following topics: Analysis of PIB’s legal framework and its governance, how it will affect the communities and the administrative effects of PIB if eventually passed into law.

    The summit’s goodwill message is expected to be delivered by the Hon. Minister of state, Petroleum Resources and ex-governor, Bayelsa state, HE, Chief Timipre Sylva and the live conference will be moderated by Chairman of TNG’s advisory board, Dr. Chidi Amuta.

    Eminent Nigerians in the array of key discussants at the summit include High Chief Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi; Transportation Minister/former governor of Rivers State, HE, Rotimi Amaechi; Hon Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Chief Festus Keyamo, SAN; former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan; immediate past director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside; Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari.

    Others are Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, (UNILAG) Professor Ben Oghojafor; Member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda; Managing Director, AriseTv, Ms. Ijeoma Nwogwugwu; Prof Hope Eghagha, and former NDDC MD, Ibim Semenitari and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Mr Martins Oloja amongst others

  • We’ll complete legislative actions on PIB, Electoral Act – Senate President

    We’ll complete legislative actions on PIB, Electoral Act – Senate President

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan says the National Assembly will ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), amendment of the Electoral Act as well as Constitution review between January and December 2021.

    Lawan stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents shortly after the signing of the 2021 Appropriation Bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja on Thursday.

    He said that efforts would be intensified by NASS to ensure the passage of the PIB before the end of the first quarter of 2021.

    He stated that the issue of security would also receive serious legislative attention with a view to finding lasting solutions to the security challenges facing the country.

    He said, “In the National Assembly, we have three or four critical things to do from January.

    “First of all, the Petroleum Industry Bill, the PIB which we intend to work so assiduously to ensure that we pass it within the first quarter of next year, but if we can’t, then, before the end of 2021.

    “Similarly and equally important is to pass the Electoral Act Amendment, this is also to ensure that we continue to refine our electoral processes so that Nigerians when they vote, their votes will continue to count, and of course, the Constitution Amendment that we always undertake.

    “Security is a major issue and it is something that the executive and the legislature will continue to work together to ensure that we address it. In fact, there is nothing more important than security today in this country.

    We need to work hard and of course resources will be made more available, we believe that with the kind of commitment we have so far shown in the National Assembly to work with the executive on addressing the security challenges of this country and with the commitment Mr President has also shown, I believe that at the end of the day, we will have a better security environment.”

    According to the senate president, the National Assembly will continue to support the president to enable him function properly as the President of the country.

    Lawan said: “We are here to represent our people, we are in the National Assembly to represent the national interest, it doesn’t matter where that interest is coming from or which interest it is so long as it is a national interest.

    “We will give Mr President the kind of support that he requires to make Nigeria a better place, to make Nigeria a safer place and to make the economy of Nigeria work for every Nigeria.”