President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to the National Assembly for consideration and possible passage.

Briefing State House correspondents yesterday, Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Allison-Madueke said the executive arm has forwarded original version of the bill to the legislature with tight safeguards to prevent faking.

But the Senate yesterday night said it was yet to receive the PIB. The minister said the safeguards on the copy sent to the lawmakers include water marks and coat of arms, saying "any other bill purportedly already in circulation especially online is fake and should be disregarded by Nigerians."

A similar bill sent to the Sixth Assembly by late President Umaru Yar'adua failed to scale through after several versions flooded the political space.

Despite the claim by the Presidency that it sent the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to the National Assembly yesterday for consideration, indications have emerged that the Senate is yet to receive it.

In a text message to our correspondent last night, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Solomon Enang (PDP, Akwa Ibom North-East), said he could not confirm whether the bill had reached the upper chamber because he was not aware of its receipt.

The spokesman of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South), had on Tuesday told journalists at the National Assembly Complex that the bill would be duly treated whenever it reached the Senate.