The Nigerian Senate has reconstituted its Ad-hoc Committee to investigate alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry contrary to reports that some stakeholders were working to stop the oil probe.
The red carpet chamber also communicated the decision to reconstitute the committee to the House of Representatives with a view to conducting a more holistic probe that would sanitise the petroleum industry.
The Senate, presided over by the Deputy President, Senator Barau Jubrin, announced these decisions at plenary after the leader of the Senate/Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele sponsored a motion on the need for the two chambers to jointly conduct the oil probe.
In his motion, Bamidele noted that the House of Representatives had also deliberated on this matter and formed its own ad hoc committee to examine the issue.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration between the ad-hoc committees of both chambers to prevent duplication of efforts in fulfilling their constitutional duties.
Bamidele proposed that the reconstituted committee be named the “National Assembly Joint Ad hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.”
Following Bamidele’s presentation, the Senate formally adopted the title “National Assembly Joint Ad hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.”
The Senate further resolved to inform the House of Representatives to establish a corresponding ad hoc committee to collaborate with the Senate.
Bamidele will continue to chair the National Assembly Joint Ad hoc Committee, with members including Senators Ekpenyong, Yahaya Abdullahi, Mohammed Monguno, and Solomon Olamilekan.
Additional members are Senators Diket Plang, Ipalibo Banigo, Khabeeb Mustapha, Adams Oshiomhole, Williams Jonah, Adetokunbo Abiru, Osita Izunaso, Sahabi Ya’u, Abdul Ningi, and Suleiman Kawu.
On July 3, the Senate debated a motion regarding the urgent need to investigate the importation of hazardous petroleum products and the dumping of substandard diesel into Nigeria, which was moved by Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC-Cross River).
Subsequently, on July 11, the Senate updated the title of the Ad hoc Committee to the Ad hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.
Following discussions with key stakeholders in the petroleum sector, the Bamidele Committee had temporarily suspended its activities to conduct a joint session with the lower chamber and develop feasible solutions to the numerous challenges faced by the industry.
