PANDEF Reacts As Buhari Sign Petroleum Bill Into Law

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has reacted to the signing of the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) 2021 into law.

Naija News earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the controversial bill recently passed by the National Assembly into law.

In a statement on Monday by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, Buhari signed the bill while working from home due to the COVID-19 quarantine which the President is observing after his return from the UK.

Reacting, PANDEF berated President Buhari for signing the controversial bill into law, adding that it is a .very “sad and bad day” for Nigeria.

Speaking with The PUNCH, PANDEF spokesman, Ken Robinson, said the President still went ahead to sign the bill into law despite the overwhelming outcry of the people of the South-South zone.

Robinson asserted that the President’s action clearly shows the disregard for the feelings and concerns of the Niger Delta people by the Buhari administration.

He said: “It is very unfortunate that in spite of the outcry and the condemnation that greeted the paltry 3 per cent provided for the development of the host communities and the outrageous 30 per cent of the NNPC limited profit allocated for the exploration of oil in the frontiers, Mr President has gone ahead to endorse the bill into law.

“It is a reality that this country does not care about the feelings and hopes and aspirations of the Niger Delta people while we continue to suffer the neglect and degradation and the decimation of our environment and our ecosystem.

“The livelihood of our children has been devasted and we suffer the consequences of this industry operating in our environment with an insensitive government that its agencies are not enforcing the faulty laws to protect the environment from the operations of the industry.

“It is very sad, it is a bad day for the Niger Delta people.”