National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
As the Senate last week passed the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector have criticised the non-passage of the Host Community Bill. They emphasised the need for the Federal Government to urgently pass the bill that addresses host community issues to allow for peace and security in the Niger Delta, even as the Bill is yet to scale through the lower house of the National Assembly.
Already, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has rejected in totality the PIGB, describing it as insensitive. However, the Host Community Bill and Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill are at different stages of scrutiny at the National Assembly.
Other cluster bills still expected include: the Upstream Petroleum License and Lease Administration Bill as well as the Downstream Oil and Gas Administration Bill. The Host Community Bill is aimed at addressing issues relating to community participation, security, and the ecological debt incurred by host communities from oil extraction.
