A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the aegis of Social Development Integrated Centre has rejected the recently passed Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), stating that the document failed to adequately address environmental issues as well as sustained agitations by host communities.
The CSOs made their position known on Wednesday at a news conference organized in Abuja. The CSOs include Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre; Zero Corruption Coalition; Socialist Workers League; Global Rescue Mission and Keen and Care.
The Director of the Coalition, Dr. Isaac Asume-Osuoka who read the communiqué accused the Senate of attempting to make laws that will facilitate distribution of oil and gas assets to politicians without taking into consideration the environment.
The groups claimed that the passed bill was a clear departure from the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which had adopted a holistic approach towards addressing challenges confronting the oil sector.
“The original PIB had made it clear that the Ministry of Environment shall have overriding authority on environmental matters. This neutrality and independence was necessary to appropriately enforce environmental regulations. Worryingly, in the PIGB, all provisions giving the Federal Ministry of Environment powers on environmental issues were struck out. By so doing, the Senate is causing the country to lose out on the opportunity of a new legislation to correct the lapses in our regulation of environmental issues in the petroleum sector."
There is no provision for an end to gas flaring. There is also the lack of independence for regulators and a glaring neglect of the host communities’ interest in the new institutions created by the bill.
“The logical consequence of this line of action is the exacerbation of environmental crisis and conflicts in Nigeria. We call on the National Assembly to promptly return to the 2015 version of the PIB as regards to the environment as it has clear and effective environmental protection provisions and regulations for the petroleum industry.”
He also queried the creation of institutions in the bill without adequate provision for the operational modalities. According to him, "On the provisions of the bill proper, it is strange that the Senate is swift to create new institutions in the industry, including the National Oil Company, the Nigeria Petroleum Assets Management Company, the National Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated, and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund etc, without first creating the enabling environment on which these entities will thrive.
“The vacuum of the non-effective and clear-cut provision(s) for health, safety and environment in the bill is disturbing and lamentable.” They added. Although the Senate has passed the PIGB, the bill recently scaled through the second reading in the House of Representatives.
