Patrick Albert
It’s really a cheering news that the Nigerian Senate has taken a major step to free Nigeria from the nightmare of unending Gas flaring. With that move, comes the hope of increased financial fortunes for the nation.
The nerves to fixing this challenging dilemma is mustered by the Senate Committee on Gas Resources through an expertly delivered report, which will surely receive the blessings of the National Assembly.
The Committee’s report on the Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Punishment) Bill, 2018, presented on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, under the chairmanship of Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, is very relieving. Gas flaring is one issue that has hunted the nation for years now.
A critical analysis of the report reveals the depth of work done on it by the committee. As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas Resources and the sponsor of the Bill, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan said, the bill when passed into law by the National Assembly, will surely revolutionise the oil and gas sector. Senator Akpan’s assertion has received the nod of oil and gas experts as well as business analysts in the sector.
The journey for the Bill started on November 3, 2016, when it was first read in the Senate Chamber. It accordingly passed through the second reading stage on Thursday, March 9, 2017 after a successful debate.
In keeping with legislative procedure, the Committee held Public Hearing on the Bill on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. The purpose of the public hearing was to receive contributions of the general public and industry stakeholders to the Bill in order to ensure a realistic and smooth implementation of the Act when eventually it is passed into law.
As a measure of faith in the Bill, the public hearing was declared open by the Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki. Other dignitaries present were officials of Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Department of Petroleum Resources,(DPR), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA).
In attendance also were officials of international oil companies, independent producers, marginal field operators, and members of host communities.
In line with expectations, Senator Akpan said the Bill will enhance a rapid infrastructural development of the oil and gas sector, enhance revenue to government as well as improve the lives of the people of the Niger Delta Region while also providing incentives for companies with clearly defined flare-out projects.
As rightly identified by Senator Akpan, the flaring of natural gas which comes in association with crude oil, is one of the most dangerous environmental and energy waste practices in the Nigerian petroleum industry.
International experts in the sector had often wondered why this issue has dragged on for years without any courageous approach to finding solution, until Senator Akpan proposed the current Bill.
As Senator Akpan further stated, gas flaring affects the environment and human health, causes economic loss, deprives the government of associated tax revenues and trade opportunities. It also deprives consumers of a clean and cheaper energy source and favourable environment.
As articulated in the committee’s report, the Bill will, among others, seek to increase gas flaring penalty to an appropriate level to de-incentivise the practice of gas flaring while introducing other market measures to encourage efficient utilization of gas.
Also, the Bill, he added, will make it mandatory for operators to submit gas utilization plan within 90 days of the commencement of the Act for effective monitoring.
The work of the Senator Akpan in this direction, is highly applauded. One thing must be noted, it is capacity that enables a representative to act as appreciable as Senator Akpan is doing.
He has not left his constituents in the dark, as he has provided effective representation and ensured empowerment for them as well. When leaders like Senator Akpan, exhibit such commendable capacity, re-electing them become the people’s concern in order for them to do more.
