NATIONAL: Members of host communities exchange blows at House of Reps hearing

IT was an ugly sight today on the floor of the House of Representatives when some members of the of oil producing communities engaged in fisticuffs at the ongoing Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) public hearing.

The fight started when the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on PIB, Hon. Mohammed Monguno invited the representatives of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas to make their presentation.

A group had started making its way to the podium for the presentation when another group believed to be a rival group suddenly emerged and started heading toward the same direction.

A member of the first group mumbled something under his breath and before anyone could intervene two members of the opposing group had come to blows.

Security men attached to the complex were quickly called in to calm the tension as lawmakers fled the scene.

The lower chamber had invited the leaders of the host communities of the country producing oil and gas following their previous rejection of the proposed 2.5% to be given to the oil producing areas in the PIB.

The group is asking the Committee on Petroleum Resources, (Downstream, Upstream and Gas) to jack up the quota to 10%, a position that the federal government is at variance with.

The House of Reps had indicated the willing to pass the Bill in April as revealed by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday.

He said, “We tend to pass this bill by April. That is the commitment we have made. Some may consider it a tall order. But we will do it without compromising the thoroughness” Gbaja said.

PIB is an executive bill that seeks to introduce pertinent changes to the governance, administrative, regulatory and fiscal framework of the Nigerian oil and gas industry, in order to ensure transparency, strengthen the governing institutions and attract investment capital, among other objectives.

The PIB was first presented to the National Assembly in 2008.

Years after its presentation, the Bill is yet to be enacted, and has led to increased uncertainty and hindering the flow of the desired investments to the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

Speaking on the bill about some days ago, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, disclosed that forces within and outside Nigeria are working against the passage of the bill but the lawmakers would place patriotism above personal interest to ensure its passage.