PIB passes second reading at house of reps

Three bills which are part of the petroleum industry bill (PIB) passed for second reading at the house of representatives on Thursday.

The bills were considered separately and passed after they were put to a voice vote by Yakubu Dogara, the speaker.

The speaker also set up an ad hoc committee, chaired by Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, chief whip, to look into the bills and consolidate them.

The three bills seek to establish a fiscal framework that encourages investment in the petroleum industry, provide a framework that seeks to ensure that host communities are taken care of as well as guidelines for the operations of the upstream and downstream sectors in the petroleum industry.

While debating the bills, the lawmakers emphasised the importance of having a legal framework for the country’s petroleum sector.

Victor Nwokolo, a lawmaker from Delta, said if the host communities are taken care of, they would help protect pipeline and petroleum facilities.

“The issue of host community should not be undermined in the issue of petroleum industry,” he said.

“If host communities are taken care of, they will help protect the pipelines and other petroleum facilities.”

Leo Ogor, minority of the house, said the pieces of legislation would address the sector “deeply”.

On May 25, the senate passed the petroleum industry governance bill (PIGB), a part of PIB.