Oil Sector Probe: Abbas Stirs Controversy Over Fresh Reps Committee

Amid claims of compromise and ruffling of feathers in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has named a fresh seven-member panel to be part of the National Assembly joint committee probing alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum and gas industry.

The development comes on the heels of the recent dissolution of the House’s ad-hoc committee to alleged infractions in the petroleum and gas industry with industry insiders alleging the oil regulatory body had made frantic efforts to influence the House leadership over the action

However, a statement by the House Spokesperson, Akin Rotimi Jr. on Friday confirmed that those appointed include the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere who will serve as the Committee’s co-chairman with other members being Hon. Iduma Ighariwey, Hon. Gboyega N. Isiaka, Hon. Sada Soli, Fatima Talba, Hon. Tunji Raheem and Hon. Patrick Umoh, PhD.

The statement said; “The urgency and importance of this matter have necessitated close collaboration between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“This new structure aims to ensure synergy, a holistic approach to addressing the issues, and ease of administrative coordination, resulting in a harmonized and efficient investigation.

“The Committee is expected to commence its duties immediately, with a clear mandate to ensure accountability and transparency in the sector”.

Forefront News recalls that controversy had trailed the House Speaker’s dissolution of the House of Representatives ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee probing the Nigerian oil sector.

Among individuals and groups that raised concerns over the development include some Nigerian youths under the umbrella of Ethnic Youth Leaders’ Forum (EYLF) that alleged the sudden, arbitrary and inexplicable dissolution of the ad-hoc Joint Committee shortly after it commenced its assignment was a brazen attempt by the leadership of the House of Representatives to silence its courageous exposure of wanton corruption within the NNPCL; the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and generally the nation’s oil and gas industry.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Godwin Meliga, the Forum said; “Only recently, the media space was inundated with allegations that the investigations of the committee were ruffling feathers in the NNPCL, hence the oil regulatory body was making frantic efforts to financially influence the House leadership to achieve the disbandment of the committee.

“The House Deputy Spokesperson, Hon. Philip Agbese, also called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss the Group CEO of NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari; as well as the CEO of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, for allegedly stifling the nation’s economic growth due to the oil sector crisis. In our candid opinion, the timing of the committee’s dissolution tends to lend credence to these grievous allegations”.

Comrade Meliga, who expressed confidence in the dissolved Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okogie-led committee’s capacity and commitment to thoroughly investigate and proffer practicable solutions to the niggling challenges in the nation’s oil and gas sector, had demanded that its allegations of corruption in the NNPCL must be thoroughly investigated rather than swept under the carpet.

It further warned that the “arbitrary dissolution of the committee grossly undermines probity, transparency, and accountability within the NNPCL and NMDPRA, as well as the fight against corruption in the country.”

For the Forum, “a clear and concise explanation by the Honourable Speaker, of the reasons behind the unilateral and arbitrary dissolution of the Joint Committee’, was important to dispel mounting allegations of compromise in the public domain against the Reps’ leadership.