PIB: Offensive Areas Can Be Amended When It Becomes Operational-Senator Sekibo

By Musa Adeniyi, Osogbo

Following the controversy trailing the three percent given to the host communities in the petroleum industry bill recently signed into law by President Mohamodu Buhari,a senator from Rivers State has advised people from the South South region to allow the law to operate.

CityMirrorNews reports that outrage had trailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s signing into law of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.

Stakeholders in the Niger Delta, including the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Ijaw Nationakl Council, INC, described as unacceptable the signing of the bill which they described as injurious to the development of the Niger Delta.

However, the Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, insisted that the new PIB was the best thing to happen to the oil and gas industry in the country.

While the Senate argued that the new PIB will bail Nigeria out of its present economic predi-cament, Gbajabiamila said it will engender investments and transpa-rency which would enhance the industry.

Speaking on the development, Distinguished Senator George Thompson Sekibo said when the law becomes operational, there will certainly be hitch up that will necessitate amendment.

He stated during a telephone conversation with journalist on a radio program in Osogbo on Wednesday.

Senator Sekibo explained that the stand of all members of the National Assembly from the southern part of the country is five percent.

He added that members from the north voted massively in favor of three percent and they had their way.

He said the three percent is very small considering the huge damage caused to the host communities through oil exploitation

He, however, commended President Buhari for signing the bill into law after about sixty-five years of agitation.

The senator then assured Nigerians particularly people from the south south of the hope for amendment in the nearest future.

As he puts it,” When the law becomes operational, there will certainly be hitch up that will necessitate amendment and through that we would be able to push for an increament”.

He, however, handed a note of warning to all States of the federation to stop replying heavily on oil money.

He described as unfortunately and unacceptable, a situation where by many states cannot find anything to do to improve their economy asides oil money from Abuja.