The investigative hearing is on the need to investigate the services and unprecedented environmental damage caused by oil-producing companies within the communities.
The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Environment has summoned the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr Mele Kyari to appear before it unfailingly on May 8, 2024, over a probe on environmental degradation caused by the activities of oil companies in oil producing communities in the country.
The lawmakers handed down the directive on Wednesday at an investigative hearing on the need to investigate the service and unprecedented environmental damage caused by oil-producing companies within the communities.
The panel, led by the House Committee on Environment Chairman, Rep. Pondi Julius Gbabojor (PDP, Delta), also directed chief executives of some oil companies and relevant government agencies to appear before it saying the matter to be addressed was critical as he threatened appropriate sanctions if those invited failed to turn up.
Besides the NNPCL, oil companies summoned include Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Total Energies, Oando Oil Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited Seplat Energy among others.
Some government agencies summoned include the Nigeria Midstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency, National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency.
The lawmakers expressed concern that out of 35 oil companies invited, only four showed up on Wednesday at the National Assembly while the National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency sent an excuse through a representative.
The Committee members complained that even the four that turned up only submitted the relevant documents just a previous day, not giving the lawmakers enough time to study them for the probe as they frowned at the attitude of the oil companies and agencies saying it impeded efforts aimed at moving the country to a better place.
Gbabojor said, “We will write another letter to everybody. They should turn up to answer questions on issues about the degradation of the environment due to the activities of oil companies.
“They have to be here on the 8th of May. If anybody fails to show up, then we will decide as a committee on what to do. I want to believe there was enough time, two letters were sent, and ample time for them to see the letters and duly honour them. But for putting on a human face, we would still give another time to do so,” he said.
