REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, HIS EXCELLENCY, (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, AT THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF BOOKS AUTHORED BY DR. EMMANUEL IBE KACHIKWU, HELD AT ORIENTAL HOTEL, LAGOS, ON DECEMBER 21, 2017.

PROTOCOL.

1.It gives me great pleasure to be a Special Guest at this public presentation of notable new books authored by the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, namely: ‘Forms and Precedents in Petroleum Law, Volumes I, II and III’; ‘Environmental Law and the Niger Delta Imperatives’; and ‘Rethinking Gas – A Directional Roadmap to Nigeria’s Gas Law and Policy Development’.

2.The titles of these books have really piqued interest as a lawmaker. I look forward to diving into the pages and getting the benefits of Dr. Kachikwu’s first class legal brain, as will be evident from the pages. It is pleasing to observe that the books are concerned with some of the most potent issues we are grappling with presently in the oil and gas sector and in the wider economy, especially in this period of economic recovery.

3.‘Forms and Precedents in Petroleum Law Volumes 1 to 3’ are of singular interest and importance. The 8th National Assembly unbundled the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) after an impasse of nearly two decades, as some of you will know. As a result, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill was passed, representing a major breakthrough in our quest to transform the petroleum sector. The other three parts of the Bill – the Administration, Fiscal and Host Community components – are in Committee Stage and we expect to make good progress on these in the first quarter of the coming year.

4.As we do so, I am sure that my distinguished colleagues and I in the 8th Senate will be grateful for the Honourable Minister’s new tome, as an additional tool – as we strive to design legislations that are fit for the purpose in the Nigeria of today. I welcome the other two books in the same spirit. The role of environmental law and our understanding of the same – are central to the Niger Delta question. The third title, ‘Rethinking Gas’ also calls us to consider the problem of gas flaring in the Niger Delta and the need for a radical change of direction in the governing law and policy.

5.Additionally, ‘Rethinking Gas’ evokes the paradigm shift that needs to occur, if indeed we are serious about diversifying our economy. Noting that the National Gas Policy was approved earlier this year, it is my expectation that this book, ‘Rethinking Gas’, also sheds some light into the development of that policy, and proffers guidelines for its full implementation, going forward.

6.Indeed, these very important books are recommended to all who seek to be more knowledgeable about the legal underpinnings that will drive the development and growth of the Nigerian economy, with particular reference to the oil and gas sector. I am sure that the books will make for a very informative and impactful reading experience for academics, lawmakers, legal practitioners, policy makers, law students and general readers out there.

7.The Honourable Minister is to be commended for his vision and commitment in sitting down – burning the midnight oil, as it were – to write these books for the benefit of the nation. We are always seeking leaders with an intellectual approach to solving the many problems confronting our country, and Dr. Kachikwu deserves to be celebrated as one such leader.

8.On behalf of the entire members of the 8th Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria, I thank the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu for these books, which are also a significant contribution to the constant quest to get Nigerians to read more. I note that in your longstanding contributions as a publisher and author, you have contributed more than most – to the reading culture of Nigeria and to the culture of the country as a whole.

9.I congratulate you on the successful publication of these books, and pray they will find attentive readers up and down our country, and beyond.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.