The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has urged the Presidency to send a fresh Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to the National Assembly with its renewed commitment for speedy passage.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday in a nationwide broadcast on the deregulation of the downstream sector of the Petroleum Industry said, “the legal and regulatory regime for the petroleum industry will be reviewed to address accountability issues and current lapses in the industry”

Jonathan thereafter assured Nigerians that “the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will be given accelerated attention.”

The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ogolor, told newsmen in Benin said “we welcome the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan to give the Petroleum Industry Bill, an accelerated attention.

“His commitment is quite progressive and in line with the yearnings of Nigerians who are keen on ending the resource curse phenomenon that has characterised the Oil and Gas industry in the past five decades.

“We expect the PIB will spell out all elements of the reform of the Petroleum Industry needed to entrench probity, transparency and accountability.

“Our next expectation from President Jonathan in this regard is to match words with action. I suggest he sends a fresh Petroleum Industry Bill to the National Assembly within two weeks from today.

He said that “the draft Bill should be printed and circulated to all stakeholders, even posted in the internet and if possible, serialised in national dailies to avoid a situation where several versions will be in existence as was the case in the 6th legislative assembly.

“This will also afford Nigerians the opportunity to make their input into the Bill.

“Thereafter, those of us in ANEEJ and our allies working on revenue transparency in the country would follow up with the parliamentarians to ensure its speedy passage,’’ he said.