Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSTCON) Oil and Gas has said that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would alleviate the suffering of the people of the Niger Delta and lead to economic growth and development if its contents were fully implemented.

Chairman of Ijaw chapter of HOSTCON, Chief James Orubu, in a chat with newsmen in Warri said that though, the National Assembly has tinkered with most of the vital ingredients contained in the bill, it would still serve the interest of the Niger Delta people.

Chief Orubu further said that the delay in passing the bill into law was a set back to the development plan of the Niger Delta, adding that the bill should be passed into law as soon as possible.

He stated that the “Niger Delta people were peace loving who always cooperate with any government in power since independence and the oil resources from the region have been used to sustain this country till this very moment but the region has suffered terrible neglect which the PIB is meant to address.

He noted that the PIB and local contents were related but that the main goal was to improve the living standard of the Niger Delta people and of course, the whole of Nigeria.

“The PIB should be implemented now. The training and process that will make the local contents work should be adopted. Local contents law and all that related to it should be well funded. It should not be only paper document but physical implementation of its contents is highly desirable.”

Chief Orubu called for the practice of true federalism in Nigeria to make every region or zone to be serious and make them work harder to take care of their people.

“We should go back to the 100 per cent retention of what comes from your land and pay tax to the Central government. When this is done, every part of the country will be committed and work hard to develop its area or region. This method will reduce tension and greed. When this happen no part of the country will no more be a parasite and development will be rapid,” he added.