By Isaiah Eka
Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Akwa Ibom are seeking the unbundling of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in order to enhance the development of host communities.
The CSOs made the call in a communique issued at the end of a two-day advocacy workshop for traditional rulers on impact assessments in oil producing regions.
The communique was signed by Mr Ayo Omowu, the Head, Environmental and Conservation, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, and Mr Edidiong Dickson, the Programme Manager, Policy Alert.
The CSOs said that unbundling NUPRC would make it more focused towards the betterment of oil-producing communities.
They also called for a review of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to provide for 40 per cent representation of women, youths, and persons with disabilities in
the Host Community Development Trust.
The organisations also called for effective legislation and strong political will to implement the sections that strengthened transparency and accountability in the PIA.
“The Federal Government should not see penalty for gas flaring as a revenue stream, this is because it violates the polluter-pay principles.
“The polluter-pay principle ensures that polluters suffer reputational damage whenever they incur pollution fines,” the communique read in parts. NAN
