- Laments It’s Sad For Niger Delta
Vociferous Niger Delta group, the Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF) has described the signing into law, today, of the PIB by President Buhari without effecting amendment to the 3% Host Community fund, as the height of disregard for the people of the Niger Delta region.
The Chief E.K. Clark led-forum which reacted swiftly through its spokesman, Ken Robinson, as reported by The Punch, expressed shock, describing the day as a bad and sad day for the people of the Niger Delta.
The group noted that in spite of the overwhelming outcry from the people of the Niger Delta who sought for an upward review of the 3% provided for Host Communities in the Bill, the President showed no concern, but went ahead to assent to it against the will of the people of the region who, for a long time, have been victims of the environmental degradation and pollution brought about by several decades of oil exploration and production in the area.
The group, while reacting to the development noted that “It clearly shows the disregards for the feeling and concerns of the Niger Delta people by the Buhari administration.”
Describing it as a very “sad and bad day” for the country, the forum lamented it is quite unfortunate that the President could treat the people of the region who have been very peaceful even when other parts of the country are boiling, with such disdain.
“It is very unfortunate that in spite of the outcry and the condemnation that greeted the paltry 3 per cent provided for the development of the host communities and the outrageous 30 per cent of the NNPC limited profit allocated for the exploration of oil in the frontiers, Mr. President has gone ahead to endorse the bill into law.
“It is a reality that this country does not care about the feelings and hopes and aspirations of the Niger Delta people while we continue to suffer the neglect and degradation and the decimation of our environment and our ecosystem.
“The livelihood of our children has been devastated and we suffer the consequences of this industry operating in our environment with an insensitive government that its agencies are not enforcing the faulty laws to protect the environment from the operations of the industry”, the PANDEF Spokesman said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina had earlier in the day, announced the signing into law of the Bill by the President.
The President who was advised by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 shortly after his arrival from the UK yesterday, to go on self isolation, signed the Bill into law while working from home.
Adesina who, in a statement titled ‘President Buhari Signs Petroleum Industry Bill Into Law, disclosed that “the ceremonial part of the new legislation will be done on Wednesday, after the days of mandatory isolation would have been fulfilled.”
