Date: 2013-04-23

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has advised the National Assembly that the Petroleum Industry Bill, when finally passed, should be premised on the principles of equity and justice in order to promote peace and development in the country.

Governor Ahmed made the call on Monday at the North-Central Zonal Public Hearing of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, organised by the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on the bill in Ilorin.

Government Ahmed explained that what has eluded Nigeria as a country was the absence of equity and justice, emphasizing that “if we have agreed that we want to live together as a nation where we have common values, and wish to hold dearly to our hearts, they must be clearly spelt out on equitable terms based on justice.”

He said the National Assembly should also ensure that interests of all stakeholders were captured in the PIB with particular reference to  security and economic issues confronting the country.

Governor Ahmed advanced the view that Nigerians must see problems confronting any part of the country as a national problem in order to build a virile nation. 

“We must see problems in any part of the country as national problems. If there is environmental degradation in the riverine areas where oil is being produced, every Nigerian must show concern because they deserve to have a good environment; they deserve to live like other Nigerians; they deserve good roads, clean water, hospitals and schools,” he said.