Oil And Gas Probe: Reps Abandon Ugochinyere, Okojie Panel

The leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee, mandated to conduct a forensic investigation into the oil and gas sectors.

The House spokesperson, Hon Akin Rotimi, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said.

A committee chaired by Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere and Hon Henry Okogie will be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.

The statement reads: “The Leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee.

“Initially tasked with investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues, this committee will be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.

“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 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.”

LEADERSHIP reports that the House had mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and (Midstream) to carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the resurgence of fuel queues in petrol stations, allegations of high cost of PMS, unavailability of fuel stock for downstream domestic refineries, among others.

The committees were also to carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the presence of middlemen in trading, indiscriminate issuance of licenses, unavailability of laboratories to check adulterated products, influx of adulterated products into the country, allegation of non-domestication of profits realised from crude marketing sales in local banks, as well as other anomalies.

The House equally directed the panels to conduct a legislative forensic probe into the allegation of importation of substandard products and high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, sale of petroleum products below fair market value and its impact on downstream and local refineries and as the source of funds for such interventions, amongst others and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.