Prof. Roseline Konya, the Rivers State Commissioner for the Environment, on Wednesday urged International Oil Companies to prevail on the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill.
Konya made the call at a Shell Petroleum Development Company Environmental Awareness Quiz Competition for community secondary schools in Land 1 East in Port Harcourt.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that SDPC Land 1 East includes oil bearing states and communities in the eastern areas of its operations.
Konya said the quick passage of PIB into law would reduce the menace of oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipelines and well-head vandalism.
She said: “The IOCs should push the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill into law, so that there would be a new direction in the nation’s oil industry.
“Passage of the PIB into law will bring changes in the system; minimize current degradation of the environment and tackle illegalities in the petroleum sector.
“Illegalities such as theft of crude, illegal refineries, bunkering and vandalism of pipelines will reduce, resulting to a stronger economy.”
Konya, who was represented by Charles Obiecheton, the Director of Inspectorate and Enforcement in the ministry, said communities in the state were eagerly awaiting the passage of the bill.
She commended the SPDC for organising the competition aimed at educating pupils on the dangers associated with oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
According to her, pupils as future leaders will in turn spread the message within the wider community.
Also speaking, Igo Weli, the SPDC’s General Manager of External Relations, said the company was worried by the current attacks on its facilities.
Weli said the company had undertaken several awareness campaigns and educated communities on the dangers posed by pipeline and well-heads vandalism on the environment.
He said: “This is one of the steps we are taking by exposing the younger ones to the environmental dangers and the need to abstain from encroachment on Shell Right of Way and oil installations.
“The competition also sought to enlighten them about the negative effects of pipeline vandalism, theft of well-heads and accessories and indiscriminate bush-burning.
“We hope the students who had demonstrated intelligence throughout the competition would become change agents in the environment of their respective communities and beyond.”
Weli said attacks on oil and gas installations had negatively affected revenue profile of government and companies as well as denied businesses the enabling environment to operate.
He advised vandals to seek legitimate means of making money.
NAN reports that Community Boys Secondary School, Elelenwo won the competition, which featured 62 secondary schools in the area.
Community Secondary School, Aleto Eleme, Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Rumuokwurishi, and Lady Victoria, Obinya Secondary School, Abia, emerged runners up respectively.
NAN.