The Bayelsa State government is seeking the inputs of oil communities in the state on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that is before the National Assembly.
Ibiere Jones, Commissioner for Mineral Resources, stated this Monday in Yenagoa at the fifth transition and inauguration of a new executive committee for the KEFFES Rural Development Foundation (KRDF), saying he has sent the bill to them to study and come up with their positions.
Jones disclosed that he is in touch with his counterparts in other states on the need for the oil-producing states to come up with a common position on the provision of the bill for the benefit of oil-producing communities.
He explained that in line with Governor Douye Diri’s policy to deliver prosperity to the people, his ministry is working to ensure collaboration, cohesion and peace in oil-producing communities.
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Jones called for transparency, increasing corporate social responsibility and uniformity in the operations of oil cluster administrations while stressing the need for their contractors to pay taxes to the state.
Earlier, chairman of the KEFFES Board of Trustees, J. T. C. Leghemo, represented by Davidson Numide, said KEFFES is an acronym for the eight communities that make up the development cluster funded by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P).
In his welcome address, chairman of the transition organising committee, Clifford Joseph Wilson, introduced the programme of events and urged delegates to remain civil to ensure a peaceful transition.
Delegates from Koluama I and II, Ezetu I and II, Foropa, Fish Town, Eleni and Sangana communities that make up the KEFFES Rural Development Foundation elected the executive committee to manage affairs of the foundation for the next four years.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the executive committee, Selepre Matthew, who was elected chairman for the second time, thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him, promising not to fail the people.
Matthew assured that the little funds from the sponsors, CNL and First E&P, would be used to develop the communities and urged the Commissioner for Mineral Resources to convene a meeting of oil clusters in the state on a position on the PIB.
