The Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC), has said that the percentage approved for the oil bearing communities as their equity share in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) passed by the Senate is not only demeaning, but an insult for the environmentally degraded host communities.
Barrister Alaowei E. Cleric, the National President, Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC), who disclosed this in Lagos,wondered what 3% could do to cushion the effects of the years of degradation and exploitation of the ecosystem.
He said: “When the bill was introduced by Yar’Adua government at the time of the militants’ agitations for equity and fair share in the production quota, 10% equity share was voted in the proposed bill for the host communities.
“The same was one of the bargaining lines of discuss to lull the restive Niger Delta people. We commend the House of Representatives for approving 5% in their version of the bill, even though we are demanding for the original 10% host communities share.
“The members of this 9th Senate seems to have forgotten so soon that the 10% equity share for the host communities in the then PIB was one of the reasons why the aggrieved Niger Delta people reluctantly accepted the presidential amnesty.
“The Federal Government cannot renege on its promise now that the region is peaceful. It is ridiculous that the Senate approved in the Bill a whopping 30% for the NNPC to explore oil across the country.”
He said the Senate was more concerned about what they never see than what the naton have.
He added:“The host communities should continue to suffer from the environmental abuse occasioned by the oil exploratory activities without any environmental remediation?The communities should continue to suffer neglect and marginalisation on the altar of national infrastructure development without their interest being protected by the petroleum law?
“The House Joint Committee should look into the danger in passing bill into law. Niger Delta people need nothing less than 10% equity share as originally agreed.The National Assembly should strive to consider the interest of the people who bear the brunt in passing the PIB. 3% will sure resurrect agitations in the region.”
