Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says the passage of the Host Communities Bill aspect of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will give oil producing communities a sense of belonging.
He said this on Wednesday when he received a delegation of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Governor Wike was optimistic about the gains of the bill that when passed, it would address the challenges faced by oil producing communities, especially in the southern region of the country.
“This is an important aspect of the Petroleum Industry Bill as it concerns the host communities. The host communities will become a component part of the entire process.
“The oil producing communities are bedevilled by all kinds of environmental challenges. The passage of the host communities bill will give them a sense of belonging,” he said.
The governor further highlighted that the passage of the bill would enhance the security of petroleum pipelines because of the involvement of the host communities in the production process.
According to him, setting aside a certain percentage of funds for the development of host communities is vital.
Wike urged the Senate Committee to also visit all slated communities for the necessary interaction as regards their peculiar needs.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa, said the Senate attaches importance to the passage of the Host Communities Bill.
He assured the governor that the bill would be passed before the long vacation of the Senate.
Senator Marafa explained that the initiative to segment the bill was to ease the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.
“On the assumption of office, the eight National Assembly took it upon itself to break the jinx and pass the Petroleum Industry Bill once and for all”, he said.
