The Presidency has expressed concern over the circulation of a fake document purported to be the new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said the purported PIB already published on some websites was fake.
“The Presidency wishes to categorically disown the document currently being circulated and published as the new Petroleum Industry Bill. Following the consideration and approval of its contents by the Federal Executive Council at its meeting last week, the authentic new Petroleum Industry Bill is still being finalised by relevant government departments and readied to be forwarded to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan,” Abati said.
Abati said that whenever the authentic Bill was delivered to the National Assembly under the official Seal of the President, copies would be made available to all interested parties.
He called on the general public and all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to ignore the fake document in circulation. Abati also assured the public that the attempt to derail the passage of the Bill by releasing multiple versions to the public would not succeed.