By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor,

LAGOS — The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, has urged the executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government to put the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, as a priority towards stopping the N3 trillion that is lost on account of the absence of the law.

CISLAC, in a statement, said the passage of the PIB would ease the worries of stakeholders in the sector as was exemplified by recent moves to break up the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

CISLAC in the statement issued by its executive director, Auwal Musa, said: “CISLAC recalls that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had said Nigeria is losing $15 billion (N3 trillion) annually due to non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law.

“We note that despite the restructuring going on in the NNPC, the fundamental surgery that is required for the sector to be effective and accountable can only be found with the passage of this law, which has been elusive for the past 12 years.

“The recent confusion and hullaballoo around the restructuring or unbundling of the NNPC would not have occurred if the appropriate steps had been adopted.

“The present reforms in the sector are largely administrative and would be easy to reverse should appropriate legislative and institutional frameworks be put in place. This is what the PIB represents.

“It is, therefore, not only logical but also natural that a government that seeks to sanitize that sector turns to ensure the quick passage of the law as a matter of urgency.

“CISLAC calls on civil society, the media and all stakeholders to rally round and revive the campaign for the passage of this law.”