The new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the House of Representatives has set out to redefine the concept of oil host communities to include select few non-oil producing states, Elombah.com has learnt.
Critics say that the move is geared towards denying the oil producing and the environmentally devastated Niger Delta the full benefits of the proposed oil host communities fund.
Titled: ‘A Bill for an Act to provide for a framework relating to Petroleum Host Community’s participation, cost and benefit sharing amongst the government, petroleum exploration companies and petroleum host communities and for related matters,’ the new PIB, read for the second time last week at the House of Representatives, provides that states where there is a refinery, petroleum depot or where pipeline passes through will draw from the anticipated oil host communities’ funds.
Specifically Kaduna and Kano were boldly classified as oil host community states.
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