Host communities appeal to NASS on passage of PIB

Worried by the delay, Flowstation Host Communities of Nigeria (FLOWHOSCON) has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to expedite action on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Comrade Sheriff Mulade made the call on behalf of FLOWHOSCON in  Warri, Delta State.

He lamented that the non-passage of the bill was making mockery of the industry and the country as a whole.

The PIB, it will be recalled, is a bill meant to establish the legal and regulatory authorities for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.

Comrade Mulade who is the National President of FLOWHOSCON said the country was losing billions of naira in terms of investment diversion to other African countries.

“We wish to call on the National Assembly to pass the PIB now to give a sense of belonging to all stakeholders in the Industry.

The industry definitely needs PIB to give it a framework for stakeholders who play in oil and gas industry,” he stated.

Comrade Mulade lamented that it was quite unfortunate that the bill had been with the National Assembly for more than 10 years, but due to politics and vested interests, it had not been passed and urged the NASS to pass the bill now.

“The bill has been in the works for over a decade and has been redrafted several times, but was never passed by the previous assemblies.

The current NASS should make history by passing the bill now.

People should stop playing politics with the bill. I must say that we  do not know what is delaying the passage now that the bill has been broken into different segment.

This bill is the hope of investment in the oil and gas sector, it will give sense of belonging to all stakeholders and  we, therefore, appeal to our legislators to pass the bill now,” he added.

Meanwhile, the host oil communities have called on  the  Federal Government  to consider host communities in the  re-award of  the pipeline surveillance jobs and contracts.

They contended that involving the host communities directly in the re-award of the  pipeline surveillance jobs and contracts will end pipeline vandalism in the region.

They, therefore, implored President Muhammadu Buhari not to leave out the host oil Communities in the deal.