Editorial
PIB: Supporting 10% Trust Fund
Arising from their last meeting held earlier this month at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, governors of the South-South region bared their mind on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently receiving legislative attention at the National Assembly.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa said the governors had rejected the provision of 2.5 per cent contribution into the Host community Trust Fund as contained in the bill and instead demanded a 10% contribution.
According to the Chief Executive Officers of the oil bearing states, the 2.5 per cent proposal was grossly inadequate and incapable of addressing the issues it is meant to resolve in the overall interest of all stakeholders in the oil exploration and exploitation activities including the nation, the impacted communities and the oil companies.
“We took up the issue of the PIB, the Petroleum Industry Bill which is already before the House (National Assembly) and having compared notes with ourselves, we are of the view that while we welcome the Host Community Trust Fund, we do believe that the 2.5 per cent that is appropriated in that bill for the purpose of host community fund is inadequate.
“We have discussed with our people and collectively as leaders of the people in our various states and as leaders standing in on behalf of our people, we urge that the National Assembly should increase the provision in the host community fund from 2.5 per cent to 10 per cent in the best interest of our communities, in the best interest of our nation”, they said.
The governors expressed the firm belief that the provision of adequate funding to cater for the needs of the host communities to compensate for the adverse effect of the hydrocarbon industry upon their lives and livelihood was the sure way to securing a stable, secure and crisis-free atmosphere and environment for the industry that sustains the nation.
“And the peaceful environment that would be seen in the various oil communities would enable us to have greater production and a seamless production in which we do not have any form of disruption in our oil productions going into the future”, they stressed.
The Tide endorses and supports the governors on this well-considered and modest demand as it faithfully represents the yearnings and aspirations of the deprived, dehumanised, neglected, environmentally devastated, economically strangulated and physically exposed to certain painful death by instalment inhabitants of the region.
It is a truism that adequately fed and well tended cows yield the most milk and healthiest meat. The same is true of poultry where the quality and quantity of eggs produced by the birds is directly derived from the quality and quantum of feed and other requisite treatment given. To receive more from the God-given wealth to the people of the Niger Delta, the Federal Government should have no difficulty making appropriate investments into the lives and environment of the people in order to reap bountiful and sustainable benefits for the nation.
Against this backdrop, The Tide urges the governors not to shift grounds on their demand. In the same vein, we urge the National Assembly to see the position of the people of the region as expressed by the governors as service to the nation and therefore brook no reluctance to accede to the patriotic call for an upward review of the earlier proposed 2.5 per cent contribution to 10 per cent.
We are not unmindful of the general principle of the bill and its intendment to find lasting solution to the perennial conflicts between oil bearing communities and the oil multinationals that have had dire consequences for accruable revenues to the national treasury, social stability and environmental preservation. As captured in the bill: “The objectives of the host communities development trust shall include; to finance and execute projects for the benefit and sustainable development of the host communities within the scope of funds available to the Board of Trustees for such purposes; facilitate economic empowerment opportunities in the host communities as well as advance and upgrade educational development for the benefits of members of the host communities”.
It is to take care of the above that the bill provides that “Each settlor, where applicable through the operators, shall make an annual contribution to the applicable host community development trust fund of an amount equal to 2.5 per cent of its actual operating expenditure in the immediate preceding calendar year in respect to all petroleum operation affecting the host communities for which the applicable community development trust fund was established”.
The simple point being made by the people through the governors is that the proposed contribution to fund the objectives of the bill will not be sufficient to deliver on the mandate and therefore needs to be increased. This, in our view, is not asking for too much if the Federal Government truly and sincerely wishes to permanently put to rest the devastating issues of militancy, economic sabotage, environmental pollution, youth restiveness and related matters, and uplift the condition of the people, giving them a sense of belonging and guaranteeing them a safe, secure, productive and healthy existence.
To this end, we urge the National Assembly to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that this time around, the PIB does not suffer the fate of its predecessors and is passed into law without further delay. In this regard, we rely on the commitment already made by the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Ahmad Lawan. We believe that a timely passage of the bill will not only bring the desired sustainable development in the petroleum industry but will save lives and secure the future of Nigerians.
On the part of the Federal Government, we expect President Muhammadu Buhari to expeditiously sign the bill into law as soon as it gets to his table and muster the political will to enforce its provisions and ensure compliance from recalcitrant, negligent and out rightly dubious oil giants who would stop at nothing to sacrifice the blood of the people for filthy lucre. The federal authorities must not hesitate to invoke the relevant sections of the bill which prescribe the revocation of the licences of errant companies whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the sanctify of the law and uphold the interest of the people.
Finally, we sincerely hope that the people of the Niger Delta region will not only ask to receive without a corresponding willingness to assume the attendant responsibility. As it is, the bill already provides that where in any year, an act of vandalism, sabotage or civil unrest occurs that causes damage to petroleum and designated facilities or disrupts production activities within the host community, the community shall forfeit its entitlement to the extent of the cost of repairs of the damage that resulted from the activity. The people must therefore realise that a crisis-free and more conducive atmosphere for oil production activities directly translates to more development projects and better life for them. This message must accompany the demand of the governors.
It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.