Northern Governors Set To Kill PIB | Sahara Reporters

Northern Governors Set To Kill PIB | Sahara Reporters

LAND RECLAMATION FUND

The term "Petroleum Host Community Fund" is a semantic error. I said so long ago. The drafter of the Bill should have categorized that Section as either "Land/Water Reclamation Fund” or “Decommissioning Fund” as the case may be. Such Fund is a core component of the emerging global trends - an international framework - for the sustainable development of natural resources.  It is about the future and the unknown. Given what happened in the Gulf of Mexico, the USA, and the Bonga Oil Spillage in the Nigerian Niger-Delta recently, a "Host Community Fund" or “Land/Water Reclamation Fund” or “Decommissioning Fund” is a welcome development. The accompanied environmental devastation and its impacts on human and natural resources in and around the areas make the inclusion of such Fund in PIB morally and economically imperative.

Most importantly, as always the case in every jurisdiction, this Fund is not a development fund; the specified amount is normally paid into a designated account or a consolidated fund account as the case may be, specifically for unforeseen catastrophic occurrences connected with exploration activities. Also, the fund is required to transplant the land and the surrounding water or river to the natural state that they were prior to oil exploration - that is at the end of drilling or mining activities as the case may be. So, opposition to this fund within the PIB is without merit and should be rejected by every Nigerian.

Finally, as a Nigerian and as a professional in the energy industry, I must caution; we should not gamble with that section of the Bill. Without it, the bill is worthless. If members of the National Assembly are willing to abdicate their constitutionally recognized legislative responsibilities due to pressure from a section of the national governors, then we might as well jettison the concept of the Presidential system of government or eliminate the Legislative branch entirely. In that case, the Governors and the President would be able to enact laws and implement or execute them at the same time - the military-style. I sincerely hope that is not where the Northern Governors are taking the country.

On a lighter note, there is this popular saying when I was growing up: “Soldier go, Soldier come” - the position of Energy Minister is not permanent and it is not hereditary. So why are we digressing on the power wield or likely to wield by the incumbent as if Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is going to remain there permanently? It is like Republicans fighting relentlessly to dilute the power and prestige of the Presidency because a black guy is at the Oval Office presently. It could be you the next day. We should focus on the merit of the law, if at all, without regard to the power or influence of Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.