By Citizenship Newspaper
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has launched a sweeping investigation into how oil and gas companies comply with decommissioning and abandonment regulations, inaugurating an Ad Hoc Committee with a mandate to scrutinize adherence to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Declaring the committee open, Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen said the probe is vital to safeguarding host communities, protecting the environment, and reinforcing the credibility of regulatory institutions in the petroleum sector.
He stressed that the investigation carries “wide-ranging implications for host communities, our environment, and the integrity of our regulatory system,” adding that the panel will thoroughly examine operators’ decommissioning plans, evaluate compliance with statutory obligations, and verify whether adequate financial provisions have been set aside to avert future environmental or operational liabilities.
“This work demands close attention to detail, strong understanding of the law, and independence of judgment,” Tajudeen said, assuring the committee of the full support of the House while calling for maximum cooperation from all stakeholders.
At the inaugural sitting, Committee Chairman Hon. Bassey Akiba Ekpenyong (LP–Cross River) issued a firm summons to the Chief Executives of both the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The summons followed the failure of their representatives to provide critical documents requested by the committee.
The panel ordered both Managing Directors to appear on Wednesday or formally delegate senior officials with full authority to provide testimony and submit all required documentation.
Ekpenyong emphasized the urgency of the assignment, noting that numerous oil and gas installations across the country have long exceeded their design life and now pose grave risks—including environmental pollution, economic losses, community tensions, and major safety hazards.
He reiterated that the PIA spells out strict responsibilities for asset lifecycle management, decommissioning funding, safe retirement of facilities, and full environmental remediation.
The committee, he added, will engage regulatory agencies, operators, host communities, civil society groups, environmental experts, academics, and financial institutions involved in decommissioning fund management.
“Our approach will be fair, professional, evidence-driven, and transparent,” Ekpenyong assured. “This is not an adversarial inquiry. It is a national responsibility to protect our environment, secure our economy, and uphold the rule of law in line with the PIA.”
He pledged that the committee is fully aware of public expectations—and will deliver.
Ends
