Arrangements for in-depth investigation into the award of all oil prospecting licences (OPLs) and oil mining leases (OMLs) have been concluded by the House of Representatives.
Expected to appear before the Adhoc Committee are: past ministers of petroleum resources as well as the incumbent minister of state for petroleum resources and group managing director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ibe Kachukwu, as well as management team of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), chairmen and chief executive officers of oil majors, among others.
The investigative public hearing is aimed at exposing “some unpatriotic and unscrupulous elements within the country with active connivance of some desperate expatriates” that undermine due processes and guidelines for the acquisition of the oil blocs’ licences.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Adhoc Committee on Thursday, Speaker Yakubu Dogara assured that the House would always do the right thing.
“It is the responsibility of this Committee to find out how many companies follow due process as well as find out the modalities of the due process,” Dogara, represented by Leo Ogor, said.
The speaker also urged the Adhoc Committee to invoke all relevant provisions of the law on any individual or organisation that might want to prove difficult in the cause of the investigation.
In his remarks, Gideon Gwani, chairman of the Adhoc Committee, explained that the initiative was in tandem with ongoing reform in the petroleum sector and reinvigorate government’s effort by unravelling the problems bedevilling the sector and come up with workable solutions that would open up a new vista for the sector and the country at large.
While expressing displeasure over the “unhealthy development in the sector, he posited that the House resolution was “timely and desirous as it is also in line with the reform exercise currently taking place in the petroleum sector.”
The chairman, who applauded ongoing reforms initiated by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, reiterated the resolution of the House to stop and bring the perpetrators of the illicit act to book with the view to maximise the abundant opportunities and make the sector very attractive for investors.
“Some unpatriotic and unscrupulous elements within the country with the active connivance of some desperate expatriates are undermining such efforts by flouting the due process and guidelines for acquisition of OPLs and OMLs.
“This unhealthy development is a tragedy that must be stopped and perpetrators brought to book if we are to make the very sector attractive so as to compete favourably with the rest of the world.
“As an arm of government vested with the responsibility of making laws for the common man, we can not fold our arms and watch this unfortunate act to continue to prevail, especially with the current fall in the prices of crude oil in the international market and the negative effects it has on the Nigerian economy.
“It is also imperative to re-emphasise that no country can sit and watch this unhealthy situation to continue without taking a deliberate measure to stop the menace.
“One of the measures is to get the accurate records and data of all the companies or individuals that have been granted OPLs or OMLs for the exploration of petroleum with a view of ascertaining if they are operating within the ambit of the law and set guidelines,” he said.
He assured that the Committee would leave no stone unturned to get to the root cause of the problem, saying “No amount of intimidation and frustration will deviate us from the right thing.”
