Stakeholders reject PIA, demand immediate review

Nigeria’s Delta Communities”, organised by the Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) in Port Harcourt.

The keynote speaker and Executive Director of We The People, Mr Ken Henshaw, explained that the PIA was only out to shortchange the Niger Delta people and wondered who determines the operating cost of an oil company.

Henshaw regretted that gas flaring is seen in the PIA as economic loss and not a health hazard, contributing to air poisoning for over 40 million inhabitants of the Niger Delta region.

Henshaw wondered how unarmed members of host communities will be able to protect oil installations from armed criminals and vandals, whereas NSCDC, JTF and other armed security forces have failed in the same quest for over 20years.

"The PIA criminalises oil communities, if we accept the PIA then we are saying that we are criminals.

Under the PIA, where the community fails to protect the oil facilities, funds will be deducted from the 3percent meant for the host community. The PIA treats the Niger Delta people as a subject of oil infrastructure.

"The PIA said when there is unrest, meaning that any day a community decides to carry placards and say 'we no go gree' the settlor can claim he has lost 100million barrels due to the protest and thereby deny the host community their 3percent.

"Who determines the operating cost of oil operators? The 3percent operating cost will now be far lesser than the GMoU funds given to host communities by oil multinationals annually. Matter of fact, nothing is coming; be assured that one year from now people will revolt when they have realized that the PIA's 3percent host community fund is a scam,” he said.