By Musa Adamu
Abuja
An environmental right group has warned the federal government against discarding the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in its present form as allegedly advised by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Conveying its warning, the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), in a statement, described the call on President Muhammadu Buhari to proposed legislation as not only unfortunate, but a move that would also embolden oil multinationals to continue their impunity which had polluted the Niger Delta and eroded Nigeria’s revenues.
It said the APC, had in a news report with the Bloomberg and also confirmed by its policy director, Kayode Fayemi, said the president should discard the PIB and replaces it with a new reform bill that was based on discussions with international oil companies to “ensure all perspectives are adequately considered.”
ERA/FoEN however, described the call as “very disturbing” in light of the support the PIB had garnered in the last four years from civil society groups and Niger delta communities that had suffered degradation and neglect.
The statement quoted the executive director, ERA/FoEN, Godwin Ojo, as saying the group was shocked by the new thinking on the PIB.
He said: “We are perplexed at this call coming at a time that Nigerians are demanding environmental accountability and a say on how oil multinationals operate in the environment.”
He noted that while the APC made some positive recommendations which included a review of audits and corruption allegations against the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), calling on the government to discard the PIB however, would amount to government lacking the political will to hold oil multinationals accountable for their human rights violations, environmental degradation and the application of the polluter pays principle.
“The APC government should not set a bad precedent by disappointing the expectations of the Niger delta people who remain shell-shocked by the rigmarole of the immediate past PDP administration in pushing a strong legislation through.
“That government also failed to implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Assessment on Ogoniland. We believe that a strong PIB will promote the interest of local communities and the protection and preservation of the Nigerian environment.
“The Buhari administration must sieve the recommendations and show good example by listening to the voice of the people which is overwhelmingly in support of a strong PIB. It is now time to stop paying lip service to environmental sustainability and hold those who violate the environment of the Niger Delta accountable. Nothing short of the peoples demand for a strong PIB is acceptable.”
