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Call for quick passage of PIB intensifies

By on May 4, 2013

As the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke leads Nigeria’s contingent to Offshore Technology Conference 2013 in Houston, Texas, United States this month, deliberations on quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill is expected to take the centre stage.

The proposed oil industry reform law currently before the National Assembly for legislative action would form the focal point of global discourse at the forth coming OTC slated for May 6 to 9.

This is expected to complement call for speedy passage of the Bill by most stakeholders in the industry within the country.

Alison-Madueke is billed to deliver the keynote address at the global oil meet described as the oil and gas industry equivalent of the Olympics.

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture had also called on the Federal Government to ensure the speedy passage of the PIB, adding that the reformation of the petroleum sector was vital if the government really wanted to better the lives of Nigerians.

The National President, NACCIMA, Dr. Herbert Ajayi, had confirmed this in a recent review of performance of the economy last year and presenting the outlook for 2013.

The President, Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Obuvie, had also supported the quick passage of the bill, saying that the happenings in the petroleum industry were making it imperative for this bill to be passed at this time.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, had also called on the National Assembly to expedite action and pass the PIB into law.

Alison-Madueke had noted that apart from offering a platform for the propagation  of the central objective of the PIB, the OTC serves as a ready platform for indigenous operators to up the ante on technology trends in the industry.

“The OTC being one of the world’s foremost gatherings in technology as far as the oil and gas industry is concerned, clearly sets the pace in what happens on the technology front and this is a highly technology driven industry. So participation in the OTC gives us a lot of understanding, provide platform for knowledge transfer and above all exposure for our indigenous operators,” the Minister said.

She said that the experience garnered over the years has impacted positively on the productivity and general output of indigenous operators and service providers.

 

 

 

[Punch]