PIB Act: Ignoring Outrage, Buhari Sets Up Implementation Committee; Has One Year Mandate

By Ayodele Oni

Ignoring the uproar that greeted his signing of the Petroleum Implementation Act, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a committee to immediately begin the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act in 12 months.

The South-south zone in particular, whose soil is the refuge of Oil and Gas, had protested the signed PIB Act, insisting that it is not only skewed against the Zone, but confirms Buhari’s insensitivity to the sufferings of the Zone.

The Committee is headed by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, a South-south son from Bayelsa State.

President Buhari, before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council, (FEC) meeting in Abuja, gave the approval on Wednesday, while giving a remark on the Act which he assented to two days ago.

The President assented to the bill on Monday, after both Chambers of the National Assembly, Senate and House of Representatives- passed it a  couple of months ago.

There has been mixed reactions after the bill was signed, as some believed that some sections of the new law ought to be reconsidered in the interest of Nigerians.

One of the stakeholders in petroleum industry, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) described as insensitive President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), despite the overwhelming outcry and condemnation that greeted its passage by the National Assembly.

According to the group, the paltry three percent provision for the Host Communities Development Trust Fund and the brazen appropriation of an outrageous 30% of NNPC Ltd profit for a dubious, nebulous Frontier Oil Exploration Fund.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ken Robinson, PANDEF insisted that the PIB fell way short of the expectations of the Oil and Gas Producing Communities, which bore the brunt of ‘unconscionable’ industry operations.

It would be recalled PANDEF leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had last month warned that any thing short of 10 percent as the actual annual operating expenditure of the preceding financial year in the upstream petroleum operations affecting the host communities for funding of the Host Communities Trust Fund, peace and security might not be guaranteed in the Niger Delta region.

“This assent by President Buhari simply speaks to the repugnant attitude of disregard, propelled by arrogance, disdain and contempt with which issues concerning the Niger Delta Region are treated, particularly by the present Administration.”

“What this act signifies is an unequivocal message to the Niger Delta people that how they feel and what they say, do not count, at all, in the Schemes of the Nigerian Project.

“That’s insensitive, abominable and afar every boundary of proper Democratic practice, and, therefore, unacceptable to the good people of the Niger Delta, the critical economic nexus of the entire Nigerian territory.

“The Niger Delta people will speak, shortly, after full consultations, on this callous act, on the best legal and political response.”

“This assent by President Buhari simply speaks to the repugnant attitude of disregard, propelled by arrogance, disdain and contempt with which issues concerning the Niger Delta Region are treated, particularly by the present Administration.”

“What this act signifies is an unequivocal message to the Niger Delta people that how they feel and what they say, do not count, at all, in the Schemes of the Nigerian Project.”

President Buhari had early today before the FEC meeting, met with the leadership of the national assembly led by the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, during which he made the announcement.

The President hinted that relevant ministries, departments, agencies have been tasked to work with the minister towards the successful completion of the implementation process.

He decried that the lack of political will has hampered the growth of the industry, adding that the country has lost about $50 billion in the last 10 years.

However, President Buhari is hopeful that the new Act will coordinate the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and reposition it for further progress.