The leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has described the recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as satanic, unjust, oppressive, embarrassing, and has destroyed the hope of the people of the Niger Delta.
Clark condemned the provision and allocation of 30% of profits for further frontier oil exploration in the north, noting that it was fraudulently added.
Clark made the remarks at a press conference in Abuja where he was represented by PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson.
Describing the PIB as colonial oppression that should be resisted, he said the it does not reflect the clamour by the people of the region for equity, fairness and justice.
He warned that if National Assembly goes ahead with the bill, then Niger Delta will take their destinies in their hands and deny International Oil Companies (IOCs) entry into the region.
He said: “Given the depth of ingratitude expressed and delivered after decades of exploitation and neglect of the region, the entire people of the Niger Delta region, for and on behalf of the host communities, vehemently reject the following aspects of the bill: the 3% and 5% of Operating Expenditure granted to the Host Communities; the fraudulent and provocative 30% provision for the Frontier Exploration Fund.
“If this is not done, the Niger Delta people may be forced to take their destiny into their own hands and all IOCs may find themselves denied access to their oil activities in such communities.”
Calling for a reversal of the bill, he said:
“And now demand: the PIB must be reversed, reviewed and amended to ensure that the Oil-Bearing Communities must now receive not less than 10% of Operating Cost.
ElombahNews published earlier that a concerned Citizen from Southern Nigeria raised alarm over the Petroleum Industry Bill.
PIB is currently undergoing its last stages of approval at both the lower and upper legislative bodies of the Nigerian National Assembly.
The citizen called Petroleum Industry Bill a fraud, a coup against Southern Nigeria, citizen cries out and revealed obnoxious details of the bill.
Read also:
https://news.band/pib-bill-is-a-fraud-a-coup-against-southern-nigeria-citizen-cries-out/