Akwa Ibom: CSO seeks quick passage of Ibom Oil and Gas Corporation Bill

The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), Akwa Ibom State Council has urged the state House of Assembly to hasten the processes involved in the passage of the Bill for a “Law to Establish the Ibom Oil and Gas Corporation and for Other Purposes Connected Thereto.”

The bill standing before the Assembly, was sponsored by Prince Ukpong Akpabio and nine other lawmakers and has passed a second reading.

The Akwa Ibom State Director of CHRAN, Franklyn Isong and the Secretary Christopher Ekpo in a press briefing in Uyo, on Thursday, said having understood the enormous benefits of the Bill to the state, when passed, CHRAN would keep the lawmakers on their toes to ensure that the bill sees the light of the day.

Isong recalled how the scrap metal bill, anti-open grazing bill, and other bills did not scale through on the floor of the House, saying that the CSO would ensure that the bill is not killed. like others

He emphasized that the bill, when passed, would among other things help the state in the acquisition of petroleum products, tank farms and other distribution facilities, investment in refineries, petrochemical processing or other production processes.

He added that the Ibom Oil and Gas Corporation envisages that the Bill will create employment for the teeming unemployed Akwa Ibom indigenes, generate revenue for the state and serve as a vehicle for economic growth and regeneration while also harnessing and consolidating the huge oil and gas potentials of Akwa Ibom State.

CHRAN, therefore, called on members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the Executive Arm of the Akwa Ibom State Government and the indigenes to ensure a quick passage of the Bill and timely assent to it by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, in due course