Concerns heighten over delayed fiscal framework for PIB
• Nigeria’s oil reserves may be wasted like coal, experts warn
FRESH concerns have risen over the outlook of Nigeria’s oil and gas fiscal regime, as efforts intensify on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill ( PIB), which has been left hanging for over two decades.
While the nation has stagnating crude reserves of about 37 billion barrels and gas resources hovering around 203.16 trillion cubic feet ( TCF), much of that resources could end up wasted amid dwindling investment and unstable outlook for hydrocarbon if the Federal Government continues to play politics with the sector, stakeholders warned at a webinar, yesterday.
Considering that at least 2 billion metric tonnes of coal currently remain utilised in the country, the stakeholders feared that Nigeria’s oil and gas resources may suffer a similar fate if the fiscal regime is not dispensed with urgently.
They noted that compared to other climes worldwide, Nigeria’s fiscal regime is ranked poorly, especially as its desire to make quick gains compromised the sector’s long term growth. A Professor of Petroleum Economics and Management, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, Wunmi Iledare, said while certainty, rates and timing remained critical factors for investors in Nigeria, political actors were mainly interested in shortterm outlook at the detriment of the industry, and the long term benefits to the entire country.
Iledare spoke at a workshop on the Competitiveness of Nigeria’s Fiscal Regime, organised by the Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform ( FOSTER).
He also noted that the Federal Government is mainly interested in what they could get from the sector, insisting that the country ranked low in terms of competitiveness.
Iledare therefore canvassed clear mineral owner objectives, a downward review of total marginal tax rate to attract investments, as well as royalty rate for flexibility and progressivity, while recommending Norway’s tax regime as a case study for tax neutrality.
He also canvassed dual tax system and output based incentives, adding that Nigeria’s fiscal system design should enhance indigenous participation and utilization of its resources. Comparatively, in terms of internal rate of revenue, he said Nigeria also ranked lower, saying the more the government takes from the sector, the lesser its attractiveness.
Chairman, the Society of Petroleum Engineers ( SPE) Nigerian Council, Joe Nwakwue, sought to urgently use oil and gas to re- industrialise the country. Considering that Nigeria currently has about 37 billion barrels of oil reserves, Nwakwue said the level of resources is considerably high, warning that it could become wasted like coal if not properly utilised. He noted that the country is not adding new capacity, as investment in the sector remained low due to OPEC quotas, challenges in Niger Delta, volatility in price as well as other issues.
He added that increased domestic utilization especially for gas could also boost its production and use despite the limitations at the international market, while calling for proper delineation of roles.
Nwakwue noted that price fixing, and the lapses in the NNPC Act, especially with the overburdened political interference remained critical challenges to the framework. Furthermore, he said the fiscal system should be designed with revenue distribution in mind, as Nigeria needs a saving scheme to cushion price shocks, which may impact fiscal outlook. Nwakwue also decried that the high cost of oil production in the country could lead to very low return, just as the subsidy schemes remain a waste, as there is a total disconnect between the oil sector and the entire economy, with very low contribution to Gross Domestic Product ( GDP).