News
Passage Of PIGB Excites Rivers Stakeholders
The passage of the first lap of the much-awaited Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), last Thursday by the Senate has been described as an exciting development by some stakeholders who spoke on the issue, yesterday, in Port Harcourt.
Youth of oil-rich Niger Delta region said the passage has proved that the present Senate, unlike the previous ones, consider the interest of Nigerians.
Speaking under the umbrella of the Niger Delta Youth Coalition (NDYC), the youth said, “though the action of the Upper Chambers has been long awaited”, but added that this will speed up chains of positive actions by players in the petroleum industry.
National Co-ordinator, NDYC, Prince Emmanuel Ogba, commended the Dr Bukola Saraki-led Senate for its action, and appealed to the House of Representatives to compliment the Senate by also passing the bill, just as he urged the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the next aspects of the bill.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Foundation for the Conservation of the Earth (FOCONE), Patrick Chiekwe, said the passage of the bill would give legal impetus to issues of environmental degradation caused by oil spill.
Chiekwe lauded the Senate, and noted that the delay in the passage of the bill had negatively affected the socio-economic life of the people in oil producing communities.
The executive director said oil producing communities which had suffered so much as a result of pollution and marginalization in the petroleum sector were eager to see the passage of other aspects of the bill, particularly the lap that would address the issue of 10 per cent equity share for oil producing communities.
Speaking in similar manner, a public affairs analyst, Mr. Bon Obilor said, “at least, we can see some positive changes. We can see progress and signs that those in the National Assembly are feeling the pulse of the people”.
He said the delay in the passage of the bill has held back so much investments, which investors had moved to other African nations.
“Petroleum is the life-wire of the nation; so, one had expected that such a legal framework would have been treated as a mark of urgency and priority. But unfortunately, it had to be delayed for over a decade because of misguided interest”, he said, and commended the Bukola-led Senate for making a change.
Meanwhile, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), was finally passed last Thursday, during plenary by the Senate, 12 years after its introduction as the ‘Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
The passage followed the final consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate’s Joint Committee on Petroleum, Upstream, Downstream and Gas
The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo Central) in the Eight Senate, to establish a legal framework for the creation of a more efficient, transparent, competitive and internationalized petroleum industry.
The PIGB also seeks to create a conducive business environment for the operations of the petroleum industry and overhaul the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The passage of the bill remains a landmark achievement of the Eight Senate as the lawmakers broke the jinx that many believed had beset the National Assembly’s efforts to reform the oil industry.
The bill has been a very controversial one with allegations of the resolve of some stakeholders who felt the bill, when signed into law, will negatively affect their corrupt businesses, fighting headlong against its passage.
The Seventh Senate under the leadership of Senator David Mark, almost recorded successful passage of the bill, but controversies over multiple or different versions of the bill marred the progress and scuttled ascent of former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to the bill.
According to industry analysts, Nigeria has, over the past eight years, lost over $120 billion in withheld or diverted investment due to the inability to pass the PIGB.
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who presided over the plenary, congratulated the senators for resisting all forces that worked against the bill for years, and finally passed it.
His words: “Senate’s action today culminates some 12 long years of legislative attempts to reform the petroleum sector. Now, we are a step closer to bringing better governance and transparency to Nigeria’s most important economic sector.
“Now, there is no question that the political will exists to reform the petroleum industry. The passage of the PIGB will go a long way to restore investor confidence in a sector that has great potential to be more efficient and competitive on the world petroleum market,” he said.
Saraki noted that when the PIGB is finally enforced, Nigerians would enjoy more impact of the oil resources.
“The importance and impact of this bill can never be overstated. Nigerians are ever closer to reaping the full benefits of our nation’s natural wealth.
“This means there will be greater revenue for government to invest in economic diversification, job creation, hospitals, schools and roads,” he said
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives recently completed the second reading of the PIGB, with its leadership indicating their intent to move the bill through the legislative process as efficiently as they can.
Chris Oluoh & Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.