BY AUGUSTINE AVWODE
The Pan Niger Delta Forum has strongly condemned the signing into law of the PIB by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.
PANDEF described the President’s action as unfortunate.
The group in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, said “It’s quite unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari went ahead to assent to the Petroleum Industry Bill despite the overwhelming outcry and condemnation that greeted its passage by the National Assembly, especially with regards to the paltry 3% 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.”
PANDEF insisted that the PIB fell short of the expectations of the people of the Niger Delta region.
“This PIB falls way short of the expectations of the Oil and Gas Producing Communities, that bear the brunt of unconscionable industry operations.
“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.
PANDEF said such “insensitive and abominable acts are unacceptable to the good people of the Niger Delta, the critical economic nexus of the entire Nigerian territory.”
The group stated that the “Niger Delta people will speak, shortly, after full consultations, on this callous act, on the best legal and political response.”
