OpeOluwani Akintayo
18 August 2018, Sweetcrude, Lagos — Management of Total E&P Nigeria Ltd. has proposed the use of dialogue and legislative public hearings in solving concerns trailing the Petroleum Governance Industry Bill, PGIB.
In his address at the 2018 Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria, NAEC conference held in Lagos on Thursday, Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water District, Total Nigeria, Mr. Ahmadu-Kida Musa, said although stakeholders concerns are usually the case with new legislation such as the PGIB yet, the worries can be addressed through dialoguing and legislative public hearings.
“Our thoughts and concerns on the PGIB and the rest of the proposed bills have been articulated by our umbrella organisation, the Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS of Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” he added.
The PGIB is the first in a series of four proposed bills that constitute the legal frameworks for the petroleum sector reform of the federal government.
The Bill was passed by the National Assembly last month and is currently awaiting assent by President Buhari.
The theme of the 2018 NAEC conference is, PGIB: Emerging Issues and Concerns.
Speaking further, Mr. Musa said the theme of the conference is “timely” as the Nigerian Oil &Gas Industry is currently undergoing certain reforms that “we expect, will have some far-reaching impact on the way we conduct business in the sector”.
Aside from the PGIB, other three bills currently undergoing various legislative processes at the National Assembly include the Petroleum Industry Administration Bill, PIAB, Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill, PIFB, and Petroleum Host Community Bill, PHCB.