Reps parley Senate, reconstitute panel probing NNPC, adulterated oil importation

The House of Representatives (Reps) has reconstituted the ad hoc committee probing the importation of adulterated petroleum products into the country and other infractions in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

Previously a stand-alone committee, the new seven-member panel will now work with their counterparts in the upper chamber to investigate the alleged economic sabotage within the petroleum industry.

Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Inhovbere (APC, Edo), was named the co-chairman of the new Joint Senate/House Committee to probe the petroleum sector, a statement by House of Reps spokesman, Akin Rotimi, revealed on Friday.

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Other members of the committee include Iduma Ighariwey (Ebonyi, PDP), Gboyega Isiaka (Ogun, APC), Sada Soli (Katsina, APC), Fatima Talba (APC, Yobe), Tunji Raheem (Kwara, APC), and Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom).

The lower chamber had on Monday disbanded the joint committee, headed by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (Imo) and Rep. Henry Okojie (Edo).

In July, Ugochinyere’s committee was inaugurated to investigate the importation of adulterated petroleum products and the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, among other energy issues.

However, the panel was embroiled in controversies, particularly regarding the investigation of the standoff between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The probe of the two entities divided members of the Green Chamber, with a group of lawmakers calling for the sack of Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer of NMDPRA, and Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

There have also been allegations of inducement for the appointment of a committee chairman and a rift between Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu. The Green Chamber, however, denied the allegations, saying there was no rift between Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and his Deputy, Benjamin Kalu.

Justifying the constitution of the joint committee, Rotimi said the urgency and importance of the matter have necessitated close collaboration between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

He said the new structure aims to ensure synergy, a holistic approach to addressing the issues, and ease of administrative coordination, resulting in a harmonised and efficient investigation.

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