Guardian Nigeria
Dep Speaker condemns attitude of NNPCL, Julius Berger to summons
The Senate Committees on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream, Gas, Niger Delta Affairs, Health and Environment have been mandated to investigate a recent gas pipeline explosion in Bayelsa State.
The resolution is a sequel to the upper chamber’s consideration and adoption of a motion titled, ‘Massive Explosion Close to Gbarian-Ubie Gas Processing Facility in Yenagoa Local Council, Bayelsa State, and pollution of the environment: The Need for Urgent Action.’
The motion was sponsored by Benson Friday Konbowei (PDP, Bayelsa Central). Konbowei, in his lead debate, said that the Senate should note that the Gbarain-Ubie gas processing facility is one of the most valuable gas projects in Nigeria having cost billions of dollars to build and processing about two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
He said the red chamber is aware that the facility supplies gas to the Bonny Terminal for export, and is a big source of foreign exchange earnings for the country, as well as an important employer of labour.
Konbowei said that the Senate is alarmed that there were huge explosions from a crude oil pipeline on May 14, resulting in an inferno in the vicinity of the gas facility, constituting a threat to the facility, which is a precious national economic asset. He noted that the explosions caused widespread panic among residents of the community where the explosion occurred.
IN the meantime, the House of Representatives has condemned the attitude of the management of both Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Julius Berger Plc towards legislative invitations.
Expressing disappointment at plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who was presiding, ordered the Clerk of the House to immediately convey the House’s feelings to the management of the two organisations and invite them to meet with the leadership of the House.
This was in reaction to reports from the Committee on Public Petitions on the attitude of the organisations towards summons to answer to issues arising from the public against them.
