Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Former Group Managing Director, Corporate Planning and Development Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr JOSIAH ELLAH has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill into law.
Dr JOSIAH ELLAH while speaking at the 31st Convocation Lecture of the Rivers State University said the bill did not protect the economic interest of the Niger Delta region.
He said that the oil producing communities do not have a say in the running of the oil and gas sector in the country.
Dr JOSIAH ELLAH also called on the Niger Delta State Governors to get involved in the oil and gas sector by creating industrial clusters that will tap into the numerous mineral resources in the region.
“For economic inclusiveness, optimal development, and utilization of our natural resources, all Niger Delta States, in line with the National Gas Master Plan, must embark on the creation of gas clusters/gas villages for the establishment of gas-based industries, including ceramics, Aluminium, steel, fertilizers, glass production, metal castings, chemicals, cement, petrochemicals, methanol, ammonia, NGL extraction, and National Gas Plants” he said.
Dr JOSIAH ELLAH urged the Governors of the oil-producing states to initiate and put in place a Niger Delta pipeline infrastructure rather than the current discussion on Trans Sahara Gas Pipeline which is likely to kill the KNG plants and quicken gas depletion in Nigeria.
He stated that huge job opportunities will be created when the governors take the bold step in developing the region in partnership with foreign and private investors.
The Former Group Managing Director, Corporate Planning and Development Division, NNPC Dr JOSIAH ELLAH added that stakeholders in the industry are looking forward to having a Governance Bill that will help the country grow its oil and gas reserves and respects the host communities.
“We, therefore, look forward to a Governance Bill that helps Nigeria grow its oil and gas reserves, respects the host communities and controls its oil and gas resources. A bill and a law that enables Nigeria to refine all the crude oil it produces and propels the country towards a gas-based industrial revolution since we are indeed a gas province dotted with some crude oil. Great wealth will be created for Nigeria, Niger Delta and investment partners and our GDP will grow, providing hope for many future generations of Nigerians” he stated.
Our correspondent reports that the theme of the lecture was ‘The Nigerian Economy and the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill’.
