Clash of interests: Reps to reconstitute ad-hoc oil & gas investigative committee

A clash of interests among members of the House of Representatives has forced the leadership of the House to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee.

Initially, the joint committee initially was investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues.

But following the decision of the lawmakers to engage in media war to protect their interest, the House leadership decided that the committee would be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.

DAILY POST reports that the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, recently asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Mele Kyar and the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, for allegedly stifling the economy’s growth due to the oil sector crisis.

Also, the Special Joint Committee set up by the House led by Ikenga Ugochinyere last Wednesday directed NNPCL to halt the mortgage of future crude oil for loan from foreign creditors, pending the outcome of the ongoing forensic audit of various transactions carried out so far.

However, 50 members of the House of Representatives kicked against the call for the sack of Kyari and Ahmed, describing it as premature.

The lawmakers led by Billy Osawaru while addressing a press conference last Thursday in Abuja said the call for the sacking of Kyari when an investigation was currently being carried out was premature, and made in bad taste.

But the spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi in a statement issued on Monday, said to ensure the efficacy and independence of the investigation, the new committee would consist of lawmakers selected for their expertise, competence and integrity.

“The House remains committed to addressing these vital issues and ensuring thorough oversight. Further details on the new committee’s operations will be provided in due course,” he said.