Wike wants 10% revenue
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Thursday, advocated that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), currently before the National Assembly, should allocate 10 per cent oil revenue to host communities.
Wike made the call when members of the National Assembly Committee on PIB visited him at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
He said it was necessary that the bill specified, in clear terms, developmental projects that the allotted fund should be spent on, to actualise the goal and demands of the host communities.
The governor said that oil-bearing communities have suffered the loss of livelihood due to the activities of international oil companies (IOCs).
“It is unfortunate that people produce oil but live in poverty.
I’m trusting the PIB committee to make recommendations of certain percent that must be given to the host communities.
Wike wants for 10% revenue is borne out of compassion for the citizens of the oil producing communities
“There are issues of education and health, so don’t just say 10 per cent to the oil host communities.
It must be tied to specific projects so that whoever is in charge will take note of them,” he said.
Read also: Wike slams NASS over confirmation of ex-service chiefs, alleges double standards
Wike urged IOCs not to engage host communities in the sharing of funds to avoid their killing one another instead of using such funds for sustainable projects.
He advises that the mistakes associated with the Act establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should be avoided
As it did not specify what projects the commission should embark on in the Niger Delta.
He emphasises on the need to avoid delay in signing the PIB bill, when passed.
This to avoid it going the way of the Electoral Bill that is yet to be assented to.
The governor urges the National Assembly Committee on PIB to ensure signing of the bill to move the country forward.
Mr Victor Onyemaechi, Deputy Chairman of the committee and leader of the delegation, says that the members were in Rivers
For a town hall meeting with stakeholders to resolve issues of allocation to host communities in the bill.
He said that a lot of people were misinformed about host communities, associating them with hostility.
“What we have seen in the last four days have proved people wrong, as we walked round these few days
we saw people use wood as the bridge to get to where Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is exploring oil.
“We also saw the impact of SPDC operations on the people’s means of livelihood.
https://broommedia.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2140&action=edit