States  from the Niger Delta region have been called upon to take advantage  of the divestment aspect of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).
Making the call in  Port Harcourt recently, while  speaking to newsmen, the former  Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State, Comrade  Chika Onuegbu,  urged  indigenes of the  region to work toward owning shares in the petroleum industry.
According to him, Eleme communities were  deriving  huge dividends from Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Company as co-owners of the outfit.
“For the bill proposed that government assets in NNPC will be divested, I expect the Niger Delta people to  begin routing for ownership  as we have in Indorama”, he said.
He explained that Eleme was given 7.5 per cent which would enable them receive about N3 billion as  dividend per annum.
Onuegbu emphasised that waiting for the host community fund, the  people should intensify efforts towards taking up share from government divestment in the oil companies.
He further advised    people of the region to work in partnership with  other ethnic  groups in the country to ensure the passage of the PIGB bill.
“I expect the Niger  Delta people to come  together and network along with others to ensure that their interest is protected.
“They should also work to ensure that  the host community aspect of the PIGB is  passed into law,” he said.
He also called for the use of Eleme Petrochemical Company   model in the divestment of  the NNPC.
On the passage of the PIGB bill, Onuegbu emphasized that it would impact positively on Nigerians if the institutions and agencies in the oil industry are operated efficiently.