Yenagoa—Stakeholders from the South-South geopolitical zone under the auspices of Ijaw Elders Forum (IEF) have commended governors from the region for opposing sections of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that are inimical to the region.
They made this known in a letter addressed to governors from Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Awka Ibom and Cross River state, which was signed by Chief Bukazi Etete Chairman, Ijaw Elders Forum, Lagos and Maj. Gen. Paul Toun (rtd), BOT Chairman, Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA).
Other signatories are, Mr. Ben Amaebi Okoro, Moderator, Ijaw Nation Forum, Chief Amagbe D. Kentebe, BOT Chairman, Embasara Foundation and Ms. Annkio Brigss, BOT Chairman, Ijaw Women Connect (IWC).
The stakeholders who bemoaned the exclusion of stakeholders from the region during the drafting of the Act, stated that the PIA is yet to address legitimate concerns of communities in the region that have suffered environmental and human degradation.
The letter reads in part:
“Accordingly, we recommend the following steps on the PIA to be driven by governors of the region:
“Institute urgent legal action(s) to nullify specific unconstitutional or invalid aspects.
“Convene a special stakeholders’ hearing on the PIA in the region.
“Mobilize a broad legislative understanding and action at the National Assembly to correct the anomaly.
“Request from President Buhari a commitment at the forthcoming UN climate change Conference of Parties (COP 26, Glasgow, 30 October – 12 November 2021) to promptly commence a Niger Delta-wide clean up of the worse petroleum pollution footprint on the planet and fix a date to end gas flaring that is perennially chocking our communities with acid rains.
“This is in line with the global push for climate action and the UN’s declaration of 2021-2030 as the Decade for Ecosystem Restoration. Your Excellencies are enjoined to quickly initiate a strong lobby that will press this advocacy at COP 26 in Glasgow.”
The IEF also suggested necessary amendments of the PIA to the governors, which include, putting an end to gas flaring and prescribing stiff cascaded penalties for non-compliance with the timeline.
“Incorporate a fund to remediate existing orphaned legacy pollution sites.
“Relieve communities of the responsibility to protect oil and gas pipelines and infrastructure and expunge the penalty imposed on communities in the event of damage.
“Redefine host communities as oil-bearing communities and immediate neighboring areas impacted by oil and gas production operations.
“The governing boards and managements of the regulatory agencies (NURC and NDRA), NNPC Limited and their institutions created by the Act should have adequate representation dedicated to the host communities’ interest and environmental protection.
“A provision mandating the oil and gas companies to locate their head offices, including board and top management, in their operational areas/states,” they suggested.
The Ijaw elders also demanded an increase in the provision for host communities from three percent (3%) of operating expense to at least 10% thereof.