The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), leader Chief Edwin Clark, on Monday has decried the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill by the National Assembly.

Cheif Clark on Monday speaking said that the PIB is satanic, unjust, embarrassing.

He went on to say that National Assembly on the Petroleum Industry Bill has dashed the hope of the people of the Niger Delta.

He also called on the National Assembly to urgently reverse the following aspects of the bill: the 3% and 5% of Operating Expenditure granted to the Host Communities; the fraudulent and provocative 30% provision for the Frontier Exploration Fund.

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He said: “Given the depth of ingratitude expressed and delivered after decades of exploitation and neglect of the region, the entire people of the Niger Delta region, for and on behalf of the host communities, vehemently reject the following aspects of the bill: the 3% and 5% of Operating Expenditure granted to the Host Communities; the fraudulent and provocative 30% provision for the Frontier Exploration Fund.

“And now demand: the PIB must be reversed, reviewed and amended to ensure that the Oil-Bearing Communities must now receive not less than 10% of Operating Cost.

“If this is not done, the Niger Delta people may be forced to take their destiny into their own hands and all IOCs
may find themselves denied access to their oil activities in such communities.”

The Senate on Thursday passed the long-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill.

This followed approval of recommendations of the report of the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum, (Downstream,) Petroleum (Upstream) and Gas at plenary.