The House of Representatives has announced new committee members to investigate economic sabotage within the petroleum sector
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has appointed Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC Edo), the majority leader of the House, and six other members to the joint Senate/House committee tasked with investigating alleged economic sabotage within Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
The appointment was announced in a statement released on Friday by the House’s Spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr. (APC Ekiti). According to the statement, Rep. Ihonvbere will serve as the co-chair of the committee, alongside members named as: Rep. Iduma Ighariwey (PDP Ebonyi), Rep. Gboyega N. Isiaka (APC Ogun), Rep. Sada Soli (APC Katsina), Rep. Fatima Talba (APC Yobe), Rep. Tunji Raheem (APC Kwara) , and Rep. Patrick Umoh (APC Akwa Ibom).
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Rotimi highlighted the significance of this investigation, emphasizing that it requires close collaboration between both chambers of the national assembly.
He said: “This new structure aims to ensure synergy, a holistic approach to addressing the issuesd, 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.” he added.
Similarly Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), chairperson of the senate ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged economic abotage in the Nigerian petroleum industry, disclosed during an interactive session with industry stakeholders on Wednesday that the joint committee would commence its investigative hearing from September 10 to 12, 2024
Conspicuously missing from the list of committee members is Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP Imo), the former ad-hoc chairman and the current chairman of the House committee on petroleum resources (downstream).
OrderPaper recalls that on July 5, 2024, the House of Representatives dissolved the ad-hoc joint downstream and midstream committee investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues. Rep. Rotimi noted that to ensure the efficacy and independence of this investigation, the new committee will consist of honourable members selected for their expertise, competence, and integrity.
The decision to disband the committee came after a series of controversies that had plagued it since its inception.
Some lawmakers had called for the dismissal of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari. While a group of members of the House of Representatives known as ‘1 Agenda’ published an advertorial demanding a fair hearing in the probe of Kyari, adding that any call for his resignation during an ongoing investigation was unnecessary and premature.
