US expresses interest in passage of PIB

• Akpabio: Peaceful Nigeria in the interest of global community
•  Seeks more foreign investments in N’Delta

By NDUBUISI FRANCIS

The United States of America has declared its interest in the passage of the much-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in order to provide a clear roadmap for the nation’s oil and gas sector as well as stakeholders.

This is coming as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, stated that it is in the interest of the global community to ensure a peaceful Nigeria.

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, gave the indication in Abuja, Tuesday when she paid a courtesy call on Akpabio.

The envoy observed that making the PIB a reality was of interest to her country to ensure that clear-cut conditions for entry into the petroleum industry as well as operational guidelines are spelt out.

She said: “I think that we are all looking forward to the Petroleum Industry Bill becoming a reality so that there can be a predictable basis for entrance — companies who are entering or operating there and sort of predictable expectations for the population of the Niger Delta in that regard.”

The envoy stated that she visited Akwa Ibom State last week in order to be acquainted with some of the activities of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, noting that she was aware of a roadmap for the region that was supposed to come on stream in 2020, but may have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leonard stated: “I know there had been a roadmap that was supposed to go to 2020. Many of us have had experience of our plans for 2020 not going exactly how we planned given the global pandemic. So, it is great to hear a little bit on how that timetable and activities would be revised to reach all the important goals of development, infrastructure and security for this very important area.”

She noted that the completion of the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was a good moment, adding that she had a robust discussion with the minister on areas of intervention in the Niger Delta region.

The US embassy, she said, would collaborate with the ministry in addressing areas of concern, including development, infrastructure, youth empowerment and unemployment.

Thanking the ambassador for the visit, Akpabio expressed sympathy to the United States for the huge toll the COVID-19 pandemic exerted on the country.

He said: “First, let me express our deep sympathy to you or through you to the President of the United States of America and the good people of the United States of America over the ravaging scourge of COVID-19. It affected a lot of Nigerians who are resident in the United States. I don’t want to be political, but to also say that we are facing a lot of restrictions, not just on immigrants.

“The United States is opening up once again to becoming the global brother that it has always been to the whole world. We’re happy you are returning to the table on the Climate Change issue and also to the World Health Organisation and all that. I believe strongly that this will lead to a better world because an isolated United States of America simply means a world without direction.”

The minister stated that the global community looks up to the United States for leadership.

Turning to the Ambassador, Akpabio said: “For the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, we have decided to have you, even if we don’t have any other thing to discuss, we just give you our package of problems and challenges and you take those challenges back to the embassy. I believe that you will assist us in all spheres.”

While appreciating the US for all the assistance rendered to the Niger Delta region, he noted that a lot of American companies are operating there, and called for more investments.

Soliciting more investments in housing, flood control, power and job creation, the minister lamented the difficult challenges facing the area.

But he noted that the Niger Delta region is probably one of the most peaceful parts of the country, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari had mandated him to work very hard to ensure that the prevailing peace is sustained.

According to him, the ministry is engaging stakeholders, including the youths.

He alleged that the pockets of recent violent activities in some parts of the Niger Delta were the handiwork of elements of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biaxial (IPOB) and Boko Haram.

Akpabio also thanked the US Embassy for always showing concern on issues in the country and urged other missions to emulate this as a peaceful Nigeria is for the good of the global community.

The minister observed: “Other embassies should also be concerned because with a population of over 200 million, if there is a refugee crisis in Nigeria, West Africa cannot contain us. The population of Nigeria doubles the population of West Africa put together.

“So, it is in the interest of the global community for Nigeria to remain peaceful because we can have multiplier effects negatively on the economies and even the well-being and the social structures of other countries.”

On the issue of the PIB, he noted that the National Assembly is addressing that very seriously.

(THISDAY)