In a significant move, the House of Representatives has dissolved its ad-hoc Joint Committee on Downstream and Midstream Petroleum, which was probing the activities of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Rep Akin Rotimi, spokesperson for the House, announced the decision in a statement from Abuja on Monday. He explained that the committee would be replaced by a newly formed ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.
The original committee was investigating several critical issues, including the importation of adulterated petroleum products and the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries. The committee’s mandate also covered broader energy security concerns.
Rotimi emphasized that the dissolution aimed to ensure the efficacy and independence of the ongoing investigation. The new committee, he noted, would comprise members selected for their expertise, competence, and integrity.
He reaffirmed the House’s commitment to addressing vital issues and conducting thorough oversight in the petroleum sector.
This development follows an incident on July 3, when 118 members of the House, under the banner of “1 AGENDA,” placed an advertorial in three national newspapers. The advertorial was seen as an attempt to protect NNPCL from scrutiny. Subsequently, some lawmakers whose names appeared in the advertorial distanced themselves from it.
The restructuring of the committee underscores the House’s dedication to ensuring transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
(NAN)
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