The 3-day Warri Oil and Gas Summit has commenced with stakeholders calling for the upward review of the Petroleum Industry Act ,PIA
The convener of the summit Dr Akpo Mudiaga Odje while addressing the participants stated that the summit will expose them to understand how they can benefit from their resources through the PIA ,
Dr Odje further stated that the PIA enables the stakeholders to have three percent of the operational budget of oil companies operating in their areas which will be paid to the host community development fund .
Convener
He added that the PIA Will attract development and employment to the youths in the Oil and gas communities ,urging them continue to provide the enabling environment for the Companies to carry out their business for them to benefit from their resources.
He commended former President Mohammed Buhari for signing the PIA .
Dr Odje stated that the theme of the summit “upholding local content Policy in promoting indigenous companies and the PIA in Developing host communities in Nigeria” is apt and call on the stakeholders to sharpen their knowledge through the summit and get a clear understanding on how to benefit from the PIA.
Also speaking the chairman of the occasion HRM Monday Whiskey , Udurhie I, of Idjerhe kingdom commended the Hostcom members for their struggle which gave birth to the PIA .
He commended the convener Dr Akpo Mudiaga Odje for tirelessly fighting for the implementation of the PIA in the oil and gas communities.
Also speaking the Ovie of Udu Kingdom,Okporhua I urged the youths in the Niger Delta to acquire more knowledge about the PIA and encouraged them to be educated in order to attract development to their areas.
The guest speaker Professor Sunny Awhefeada who spoke on the theme upholding local content Policy in promoting indigenous companies and the PIA in Developing host communities in Nigeria” noted that the 13 percent deriviation fund to oil producing states is not enough to develop the areas and asked for upward review .
He asked the Niger Delta people to sustain the peace of the area and allow the oil and gas companies to operate smoothly in order to benefit from their operations .
Others who spoke including Engr Alex Neyin, Professor Mike Emu also called for the total implementation of the PIA in the various communities and upward review of it to enable the communities benefit more and develop their areas .
The summit featured the presentation of award to the Ovie of Udu , Okporua I by the convener of the Warri oil and gas summit ,Dr Akpo Mudiaga Odje.
The summit continues.
