The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has described as callous the signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
PANDEF said Buhari’s action shows that the feeling of Niger Delta people does not matter.
The forum expressed its dissatisfaction in a statement issued on Monday by Ken Robinson, its national publicity secretary.
The group rejected the law, saying it is unacceptable to the people of Nigeria Delta.
Buhari had earlier on Monday, earlier, signed the PIB into law
The bill had been a subject of controversies, with federal lawmakers and stakeholders from the region arguing that the three per cent allocation to host communities is not enough.
“It’s quite unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari went ahead to assent to the Petroleum Industry Bill, despite the overwhelming outcry and condemnation that greeted its passage by the National Assembly, especially with regards to the paltry 3% provision for the Host Communities Development Trust Fund and the brazen appropriation of an outrageous 30% of NNPC Ltd profit for a dubious, nebulous Frontier Oil Exploration Fund”, the statement said.
“This PIB falls way short of the expectations of the Oil and Gas Producing Communities, that bear the brunt of unconscionable industry operations.
PANDEF added that the Niger Delta people will make their position known on Buhari’s “callous act” after consultations.
“This assent, by President Buhari, simply speaks to the repugnant attitude of disregard, propelled by arrogance, disdain and contempt with which issues concerning the Niger Delta Region are treated, particularly, by the present Administration,” the statement added.
“What this act signifies is an unequivocal message to the Niger Delta people that how they feel and what they say, do not count, at all, in the Schemes of the Nigerian Project.
“That’s insensitive, abominable and afar every boundary of proper Democratic practice, and, therefore, unacceptable to the good people of the Niger Delta, the critical economic nexus of the entire Nigerian territory.
“The Niger Delta people will speak, shortly, after full consultations, on this callous act, on the best legal and political response.”
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