Diri Urges Review of Petroleum Industry Act, Warns of Brewing Crisis in Oil Communities

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has called on the Federal Government to urgently review the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), insisting that its current implementation is fueling conflicts in oil-producing communities across the Niger Delta.

Diri made the appeal on Saturday in Yenagoa during the triple celebration of the book launch, 60th birthday, and 25th marriage anniversary of King Bubaraye Dakolo, chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council.

The governor was reacting to comments by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who lamented that litigations in host communities had prevented them from accessing funds from the Petroleum Industry Trust Fund meant for development projects.

According to Diri, Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states had earlier warned that excluding states and local councils from administering host communities, as contained in the original bill under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, would lead to crisis.

“The PIA, as it was designed, is a time bomb because the Federal Government cut off states and local government councils to deal directly with communities,” Diri said. “It is my submission that the percentage due to oil companies, conspiratorially reduced from 10 per cent to 3 per cent, be reviewed. The current situation is a recipe for crisis and I urge President Bola Tinubu to review it.”
The governor argued that states and councils are closer to the communities and therefore better positioned to manage development funds.

While congratulating King Dakolo on the launch of his books, The Pirates of the Gulf and The Kingfisher, Diri described the monarch as a literary giant and a role model for the younger generation. He announced a N100 million donation on behalf of the state government and directed that The Kingfisher be adopted into Bayelsa’s secondary school curriculum.

“King Dakolo has served Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation. He is a rare king, very intelligent and a literary giant. I urge our youths of the Ijaw nation to see him as their role model,” Diri added.

In his remarks, Lokpobiri, who chaired the occasion, commended Dakolo’s advocacy for the Niger Delta through literature and urged illegal refinery operators to desist from activities that degrade the environment.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who served as chief launcher, also praised Dakolo’s works, promising that the commission would purchase copies of the books for schools across the region to promote education and awareness.

The book reviews were delivered by Dr. Ebidenyefa Nikade (The Pirates of the Gulf) and Air Vice Marshal Kurotimi Obidake, who represented Major Gen. Solomon Udounwa (rtd), on The Kingfisher.