Stakeholders Hail Passage Of PIGB

The recent passage of the contention, Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, (PIGB) into law by the National Assembly has continued to draw reactions from Niger Delta stakeholders.
A prominent stakeholder, and leader in the Niger Delta, Dr Mike Emuh described the passage of the PIGB as “a step in the right direction”.
Emuh who spoke with The Tide in an interview in Port Harcourt at the weekend, said the passage and eventual implementation of the PIGB law after receiving the assent the pesident will address some of the imbalances in the Nigeria federal structure, especially as it affects the oil and gas sector and the development of the Niger Delta.
Emuh who represents, oil bearing communities on the Board as the Hydro carbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) commended the National Assembly for the passage of the PIGB.
Commenting on the UNEP report in Ogoni land, Emuh said the Ogoni Environmental clean-up exercise was on course. He described the project as a “major exercise that cannot be glossed over “adding that modalities are being put in place to ensure that due process to follow in the implementation of the UNEP report.
In his reaction, the President of Niger Delta based Non-Governmental organisation, known as Niger Delta Coalition Against Violence, (NDCAV) Comrade Lekia Christian, said the passage of the PIGB, will go a long way to address the perceived injustices of the Niger Delta region, especially in the participation of the oil and gas sector.
Comrade Christian who also commended the National Assembly for the passage of the PIGB called for speedy assent to the will by the president, and proper implementation of its terms. He called for unity of purpose among Niger Delta leaders and urged Niger Delta youths to embrace peace to secure the development of their future.
In his reaction, a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, Barr, Barivule Kpobe said the passage of the PIGB was a plus for the present National Assembly.
He noted that the Bill had lingered on for a long time because of rested interest, and noted that, “the implementation of the PIB laws, will help in building the process of justice in the Nigerian state”.
It could be recalled that the PIGB was among several other bills recently passed by the National Assembly.

Taneh Beemene