At a time key players in the Niger Delta region are fixated on the passage, signing and implementation of the protracted Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), with the hope that the proposed legislation will eliminate the decay in the region, Transportation Minister/former governor of Rivers State, HE, Rotimi Amaechi has urged lawmakers to put legislations in place to ensure PIB doesn’t end merely as a revenue sharing agitation.
This was the same position advanced by Hon. Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Chief Festus Keyamo, SAN; Prof Tony Afejuku of University of Benin and Prof. Joseph Abugu, all of whom made their submissions on the discourse at a one day colloquium, entitled, ‘PIB: finally getting it right and breaking the 20-year hiatus’.
Speaking at the summit, Amaechi who said he completely support the demand for 10% derivation funds for host communities, opined that institutionalizing how such monies will be spent without compromising the real developmental goals of the region should be a significant consideration.
His words, “I support completely the demand for 10% derivation funds for host communities , however, we need to ask what we do with monies beyond just sharing money. It is critical for NASS to realize that Nigeria can remain the same forever.
“We need to ask ourselves basic questions what are we doing with the NDDC funds; I applaud the 9th NASS for putting structures in place to focus on transparency, for all those who want speedy passage, let us put it in mind that this must be done in such a that transparency is also put in place”
The question of leadership is key, whether we get 10% or not if the leadership crisis persists in the region no benefits will accrue to the people.
Focus should be on capital projects not just establishing wasteful commissions – Keyamo
The Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Chief Festus Keyamo described the provision in the PIB bill as standard but opined that efforts must be geared towards restricting projects from derviation funds to capital projects alone.
Keyamo lament how the establishments of several commissions in the Niger Delta has yielded no results despite heavy funding.
His words, “Are we going to be excited about establishment of commissions? The Niger Delta people have always been content with making billionaires out of elites who give crumbs to the people. For me, the whole of the provision in the bill are standard provisions but we need to specifically protect the interest of host communities.
“People only struggle to be Managing Director of such commissions, be on the board, or become a friend of the commission just to get contracts and not for the actual development of the Niger/Delta region. How do we ensure the we build roads, hospitals? Who are going to be in the trustees? How do we get people of integrity to lead this? If the NDDC had been restricted to major capital projects, all the monies coming into the region will have been more felt today.
“Let’s limit our goals to capital projects that will last for over 50 years, that way we will ensure the monies will go to the realisation of real developmental plans in Niger Delta.”
PIB bill retrogressive, empty, failed in ensuring affirmative representation of host communities- Prof. Abugu
Professor Joseph Abugu, describes the PIB as a retrogressive bill for failing to respect federalism, lacking provisions for state government, host communities in several regulatory boards in the downstream and upstream sector.
His words: “No effort is made at the decentralization and deregulation in the PIB bill; restructuring Nigeria is inevitable, I find this bill retrogressive and empty on this stance.
“Consideration for state government, host communities are not provided . For the purposes of maintaining federal character and ensuring affirmative representation of host communities in these regulatory boards.
“Also, the process of issuing of exploration licenses gives no affirmative roles for the host communities, and this can lead us to a point where a particular ethnic group can dominate the floor. It is not sufficient to base our interest on derivations, I see deficiencies in the structure of the institutions, scope of operations as it doesn’t pay attention to the needs of the host communities.”
Without quality leadership, PIB will still fail Niger Delta – Afejuku
Prof Tony Afejuku of University of Benin raised the issue of bad leadership in the Niger Delta region and how it the menace crippled the region’s growth.
He strongly believe that no amount of revenue ploughed into the region will facilitate development until quality leadership is attained.
The question of leadership is key, whether we get 10% or not if the leadership crisis persists in the region no benefits will accrue to the people.
Host communities should be properly defined -Oghojafor
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, (UNILAG) Professor Ben Oghojafor demands that a more specific definitions need be made to classify host communities.
“This PIB bill has been begging for attention; I posit that powers of the Minister of Petroleum should be further reduced in the bill, the host communities should be properly defined and stakeholder should be classified to avoid class of interest between host communities and impacting community. I submit that there is need to create awareness in all host communities
“When the host communities get 10%, will it not go the same way that of 13% funds for DESOPADEC went? we need to look at issues of arbitrations, there should be alternative dispute resolution in the bill, to make it a holistic one and avoid endless communal clashes. I will end up in saying that the emphasis on gas will bring lots of opportunities to our nation if this bill is amended to capture the gains.”