The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has advocated the proper implementation of provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act and judicious use of the three per cent which will accrue to the oil-producing communities.
The Director-General of LCCI, Dr Chinyere Almona said this in a statement made available to our correspondent in Lagos.
The LCCI DG who commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly for the passage of the PIA and the eventual signing into law, noted that this marked a significant milestone in the administration of the nation’s oil and gas industry.
She further added that the Act would open windows of opportunities in the industry leading to inflow of foreign direct investment among others.
She said, “To reap the full benefits of the PIA 2021, the Government must pay attention to the implementation of the provisions of this Act to ensure all Nigerians benefit from the potential opportunities of the Act. The Chamber wishes to make the following recommendations for a successful and inclusive implementation of the PIA 2021.
“There is a need to create more understanding through public enlightenment about the three per cent revenue allocation to host communities to forestall a misunderstanding of the Government’s intentions and raise tensions in the oil-producing region.
“Beyond the enlightenment, there should also be a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the allocated funds are judiciously used for the development of the host communities.”
“We commend the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and all other stakeholders for this breakthrough after several years of deadlock in the attempts made by successive governments to develop a comprehensive and practicable legislative framework to regulate the oil and gas industry.
“The Act has opened windows of opportunities in the oil and gas industry, with renewed optimism for increased inflow of investments, revenue generation boost, and job opportunities.
“The new law has put an end to the decades of uncertainties concerning the future of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
“The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provides a robust legal framework that will support the reforms required to position the industry as an investment haven that attracts investors from across the globe.
“With the emergence of a more structured industry, it offers a level playing ground that can attract massive Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country. This Act will also promote more competition that could bring about a more efficient system, more product choices, and lower prices in the long term.
The LCCI further urged the government to be firm and clear in its communications about the removal of oil subsidies or otherwise, because ‘policy statements influence business decisions.”
Almona observed that divergent statements by different government officials on the removal of oil subsidies “create uncertainty and this is unhealthy and not standard practice for a sector that hosts billions of dollars of investment.”
The LCCI suggested the unbundling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in such a way that “it does not create unnecessary bottlenecks and bureaucracy in contract administration and project management in the oil and gas industry.”
It also noted that emerging companies should be run in line with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and the Code of Corporate Governance.
Almona said further, “The Chamber has always advocated for a fully deregulated downstream sector of the oil and gas industry and create a level playing ground where market forces are allowed to allocate resources through cost-reflective pricing.
“We,however, urge the Government to engage with all relevant stakeholders and players in the sector to arrive at an inclusive deregulation policy that creates a competitive business environment where all investors can thrive.
“The Act should be implemented with a focus on the areas of business regulations that make up the indicators of the Ease of Doing Business Ranking by the World Bank. Particularly, we need to do better with enforcing contracts within the oil and gas industry.”
