By Clara Nwachukwu

ABUJA—Lack of understanding of some grey areas and fear of the unknown are part of the reasons the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, has not been passed into law by the National Assembly.

This is even as a member of the House of Representatives accused Nigerians of being “too docile” and urged them to task the legislators on being proactive in taking decisions on national issues such as the PIB.
These were among the observations made during a one-day roundtable on Maximising Value from Nigeria’s Marginal Oil Fields: A Survey of Past Awards, organised by Tandice B Solutions Limited, in Abuja yesterday.

The Chairman, House Committee on Local Content, Asita Honourable, told journalists at the end of the conference: “The major issue delaying the passage of the PIB is fear of the unknown.
“That is why I said earlier that the Nigerian populace is too docile. Let the people challenge us and see if we will not pass the bill.”

He noted that the bill is now in its third reading and will be given required attention, adding, “everything that needs to be done has been done. We have held public hearings on the bill, we have gone on tour of all the geo-political regions to collate opinions on the bill, and we have had retreats on the bill.

“This is why I said that all that is delaying the PIB is fear of the unknown because even most of the grey areas have been sorted.

“Most of the excesses in the minister’s powers have been curtailed. For instance, four directors of DPR in four years is part of the excesses.

“We believe that some sections of the bill were meant just to create jobs for the boys. So let Nigerians challenge us because there is no alternative to the bill.”