PIB not a witch hunt agenda, says Mark

The Petroleum Industry Bill before the National Assembly is neither aimed at discouraging the multinational oil and gas prospecting corporations nor against any section of the country but geared towards promoting international best practices in the industry.
The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, clarified in Abuja a the weekend that the PIB is to correct some grey areas in the operation of the oil industry in a manner that would bring peace and yield positive dividends to all stakeholders.
Such stakeholders include the operators, the government, the host communities and the entire citizens of Nigeria.
Mark said at an interactive session with the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Ronhaar drs Berend Jan, that there is nothing to hide or fear about the PIB.
He assured Jan that dialogue towards a better operation of the oil sector is open and not foreclosed.
He told his guest that Nigeria is also worried about the conspiracy or connivance by illegal oil bunkerers and some foreign corporations to continue to steal the nation’s crude oil.
He said: “You should help us stop oil thieves because if there is no market for them abroad, there will not continue to steal.
“Their market is outside Nigeria.
“Help us discourage them.
“If there is no market, there will be no bunkering.
“The international community helped to stop stealing of gold in Liberia, they can help us stop oil thieves by refusing to patronize them.”
Mark also requested the oil prospecting companies to respect the local and international laws on the operation of the industry, pointing out that a situation where some oil companies flagrantly refuse to clean up oil spill or pay compensation to victims amounts to abuse.
Earlier, the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria expressed grave concern about the unabating activities of oil thieves, saying that Nigeria loses huge revenue on account of that.
Jan added that the the unfavorable security situation in the country was discouraging prospective investors while existing ones are contemplating quitting the shores of Nigeria.
He therefore tasked the Federal Government to have the political will to address the situation even as he promised Netherlands’ readiness to help Nigeria out of the quagmire.
On the PIB, the Envoy pleaded with the Nigerian Government to tread with caution so that the law would not inadvertently discourage multi national oil prospecting corporations from investing.