PIB Debate: Enang Demands Withdrawal Of Oil Blocks Allocated To Northerners

[ChannelsTV]

The debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) took a new twist on Wednesday as a federal lawmaker, Senator Ita Enang, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to revoke and re-award all the oil blocks allocated in the country. This he claims will balance the number of excess oil blocks owned by people from the northern part of the country compared to other ethnic groups.



Senator Enang claimed that 80 per cent of the nation's oil blocks have been allocated to northerners contrary to the principle of federal character.

The senator made the appeal while contributing to the on-going debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on the floor of the Senate.

It was in response to the criticisms by some northern lawmakers who on Tuesday opposed the provision of the PIB which stipulates that 10 per cent of revenue earned by oil companies must be donated to the Host Community Development Fund.

Senator Enang during his contributions reeled out the names of some of the owners of the oil blocks.

Senator Enang, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business is representing Itu and Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State.

Mr. Enang, who spoke with journalists after the plenary, alleged that most of the owners of the oil blocs were richer than their geopolitical zone.

"Some people who own oil blocs in the North East are richer than their States. At least one person is richer than the entire six or seven states of the North East."

"Now it is still said that the Niger Delta is taking too much when one person is taking from the profit he makes from each of the oil blocs more than what even the derivation that the totality of the states are taking."

"Most of these oil blocs were awarded long ago. Most of the owners are so rich that the country becomes the poorer for it."

"We should revoke all the oil blocs, re-allocate them either through this bill (PIB) or an Act of the Executive. This is the wealth of the nation" he demanded.

The Senator advised his colleagues to carry out thorough review of the inconsistencies in the PIB to ensure its prompt passage.

Also contributing to the debate, some lawmakers expressed their reservations over some sections of the bill.

The debate on the PIB is expected to be concluded on Thursday, but observers are worried  that the debate is focusing on issues based on ethnicity rather than looking at the bigger picture of producing a law which would sanitise the nation's inept petroleum industry.

Via: ChannelsTV