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PIA Requires Understanding, Engagement Of Stakeholders For Economic Growth – Oxfam Country Director

Published

4 years ago

December 8, 2021

File copy: Niger Delta map

Our Reporter, Asaba

The recently signed Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, requires the understanding and engagement of all stakeholders for socio-economic and human capital development of the Niger Delta region, country Director, Oxfam, Dr. Vincent Ahonsi, has said.

The country Director who made this position in Asaba, Delta State, at a recently held Stakeholders’ dialogue on the PIA, said even after signing of the Bill into law by President Mohammedu Buhari, many communities are stilling battling with understanding contents of the law hence the sensitisation and awareness.

The Stakeholders’ Dialogue was an effort to recreating more awareness and sensitising
oil producing communities from the Niger Delta region on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) with a view to discussing section of the law, highlight its importance and listen to community feedbacks.

The Stakeholders’ Dialogue was co-organised by Oxfam from the oil industry, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and National Orientation Agency (NOA) with a view to engendering ownership of the new law and buy-in of the communities in its implementation.

Speaking further, Ahonsi said that the new law seeks to promote growth and eliminate uncertainties in the legal and regulatory frameworks of the petroleum industry.

“The PIA provides the legal framework for the regulation of all the players in the Nigeria oil and gas sector. The Act has well spelt out provisions for streamlining roles and responsibilities of agencies and regulators with the proposed creation of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority as the main regulators of the downstream, midstream and upstream sectors.

“It also provides for the transition of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited. The new Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited is anticipated to operate under the guidance of a board as a commercial entity”, said Ahonsi.

The Oxfam boss also said that provisions are also made for the establishment of the Host Community Development Trust Fund to provide funding for the development of oil producing communities and mitigate the risks for conflict and restiveness in the communities.

“This ownership of, and buy-in in the implementation of the PIA will help in no small measure to facilitate a reduction in Nigeria’s debt profile, curb food inflation, reduce inequality and reduce poverty”.

“Oxfam remains committed to working with Nigeria government, the private sector and the civil society towards achieving a sustainable, inclusive and just recovery, post COVID-19 pandemic.

“Oxfam is once again using this opportunity to call on Nigeria government not to listen to IMF’s counsel that West African countries should introduce austerity measures as a way to recovery.

“Austerity measures as being advocated for by the IMF has the potential to further worsen current inequality and poverty; and its effects will be worst felt by the vulnerable and marginalized people, including women, older people, racial and ethnic minorities, informal workers and low-income families”, said Oxfam Country Director.

Headline

12 Die, 30 Missing In Peru Landslide

Published

15 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

At least 12 people, including three children, died in a landslide at a river port in central Peru on Monday, and 30 were reported missing, officials said.

The landslide submerged a boat with about 50 passengers on board, and another with none, as they were docked at the port of Iparia in the Amazon jungle region of Ucayali, according to a police report cited by the Andina news agency.

Six people were injured, it added, and a search and rescue operation was underway at the start of the Peruvian rainy season.

Without giving a toll, Peru’s COEN national emergency operations centre said on X that tragedy struck at dawn due to “erosion” of the bank of the Ucayali river.

It said the navy has been called in to help.

AFP

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Nigeria Grants Asylum To Guinea-Bissau Opposition Candidate

Published

16 hours ago

December 1, 2025

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The Nigerian embassy in Guinea-Bissau has granted asylum to Fernando Dias da Costa, the country’s opposition presidential candidate, following alleged threats to his life after last week’s military coup, The Cable Reports.

The coup was announced by military officers on Wednesday, just days after Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election in which both incumbent President Umaro Embaló and his main challenger, da Costa, claimed victory before official results were released.

Nigeria condemned the takeover and urged an immediate return to constitutional order.

In a letter to the President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, dated November 30, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said President Bola Tinubu had approved asylum and protection for da Costa inside the Nigerian embassy in Bissau.

Tuggar wrote that the decision was made “in response to threats made against da Costa’s life.”

“In this regard, it would be appreciated if you would kindly mandate the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau to provide him protection and security while in the premises of the Nigerian embassy,” the letter stated.

The foreign affairs minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed the letter’s authenticity to The Cable on Monday.

He said, “The decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to grant asylum and provide protection to Fernando Dia Da Costa falls squarely within Nigeria’s sovereign responsibility and longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and democratic governance.”

He added that Nigeria acted “in the broader interest of de-escalation,” saying the government had exercised its discretion “to prevent further deterioration of tensions and to promote social cohesion in Guinea-Bissau and the wider West African sub-region.”

According to Abdulkadir, the intervention aligns with ECOWAS principles and reflects Nigeria’s role as a stabilising force in West Africa.

Following the coup, ECOWAS held an emergency virtual summit of heads of state and subsequently suspended Guinea-Bissau from the regional bloc until constitutional order is restored.

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Trump To Attend FIFA World Cup Finals Draw On Friday

Published

16 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The White House on Monday confirmed US President Donald Trump would attend the draw for the FIFA World Cup finals in Washington later this week.

The United States will co-host the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico.

“On Friday, President Trump will attend the FIFA World Cup final draw at the Kennedy Centre,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece event of both his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.

But the giant sporting extravaganza has not escaped the political turmoil caused by Trump’s hardline stance on a host of issues.

Trump, a Republican, has raised the possibility of moving games from some US host cities amid a crackdown on what he says is crime and illegal migration in some Democratic-run areas.

AFP