Stakeholders in the Niger Delta region have faulted the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) presently before the National Assembly over clauses considered to be disadvantages to the oil bearing communities.

The resolution was made at the end of a two-day Multi-Stakeholders Consultative Forum organized at Landmark Hotel, Port Harcourt, by Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) in conjunction with Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN).

In a communique issued at the end of the two-day forum, and signed by Isaac Osuaka, executive director of Social Action, stakeholders noted that the local oil bearing communities were not consulted in the process of making the law, and their plight was not given due consideration.

Stakeholders, therefore resolved that community development agreements should be incorporated into the PIB to ensure the development of oil producing communities.

The communiqué also stated that the equity share promised by the late President Umaru Musa Yar-Adua does not reflect in the PIB, and called for its inclusion, stating that the source for the equity should be from consolidated revenue, not 13 per cent derivation.

The communiqué also called for the creation of a management board for the “Community Equity Fund” to be comprised of people from the local communities.

Stakeholders also condemned the Land Use Act which disposes people from the Niger Delta of their natural rights, and called for its repeal and transfer of land and resources ownership to the people.

In spite of existing legal and judicial pronouncements outlawing gas flaring in Nigeria, the stakeholders noted that section 300 of the bill legalized gas flaring, while oil companies hide under the cover of sabotage to evade their responsibilities after causing environmental pollution.

To correct these anomalies, the communiqué urged oil companies to protect their facilities and accept full responsibility for environmental pollution while gas flaring should attract stiff penalties.

Participants at the forum were drawn from civil society groups, academia, community representatives across the Niger Delta states, environmental experts and the media.

Beemene Taneh & Vivian Gboelo