Nation
Expert, NAWOJ Urge Speedy Passage Of PIB
An expert in the petroleum industry, Dr Israel Aye, says the two proposed commissions for regulation of the upstream and downstream activities in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will allow transparency and boost nation’s economic growth.
Aye made the assertion on Monday at a workshop organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in conjunction with other organisations in Lagos.
The theme was: “The Implications of the PIB on Gender in Nigeria”.
The two commissions in the Bill are the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority.
Aye, in a presentation on “Overview of the Global and Local Contexts Underlying the Reform of the Oil and Sector – How Does the PIB Respond”, said the commissions would enable Nigerians to interrogate every process involved in decision making.
He said the commissions would come up with legal frameworks that allow people to be held accountable for their involvement in decision making.
Aye decried the belief that implementation had always been the problem hindering so many policies, saying effective frameworks would deter sabotage.
He enjoined women journalists to support the clamours for quick passage of the PIB.
According to him, PIB should focus more on governance, administration and fiscal in terms of doing business and its effectiveness on the host communities.
The expert said the oil price could collapse in the next 20 years and stopped being an hot commodities just like the era of coal as means of revenue.
He said the countries were putting new acreages on the market due to the looming threat.
“The shock that it can create for the development is what the government should focus on,” Aye said.
According to him, Petroleum industry faces five major challenges, and they are COVID-19, climate change, ever cheap energy storage, ever cheap renewables and green hydrogen.
“How is the world responding? The response is confusing and almost some of the countries are doing bilateral agreement,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Joe Nwakwue, Partner, Zeea Advisory and Consulting, called for some suggestions to be included in the PIB.
Nwakwue, in a paper titled, “The PIB and Opportunities for Addressing Gender-Related Issues”, said the interest and representation of women in the industry were limited in ways that were mostly unplanned.
“Consequently, there must be deliberate efforts to ensure that women’s right and interest are identified, considered and protected across the spectrum of legal policy.
“We need to be very specific; some specific provisions should trigger action toward addressing these challenges,” he said.
Nwakwue said there was need to address this age long inequalities and equalities in the industry.
Also, Vice President, NAWOJ, B Zone, Mrs Bola Akingbehin, enjoined the National Assembly to speedily pass the Petroleum Industry Bill.
Akingbehin also tasked women journalists to support the efforts in ensuring issues that concern female were well canvassed in the PIB.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
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