Senate Forms Joint Committee With House To Probe Economic Sabotage In Petroleum Sector.
The Nigerian Senate has reconstituted its Ad-hoc Committee to investigate alleged economic sabotage within the nation’s petroleum industry. This move aims to address concerns over oil sector inefficiencies, despite earlier reports suggesting some stakeholders were attempting to halt the investigation.
Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jubrin, announced the Senate’s decision on Wednesday, following a motion led by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. Bamidele emphasised the importance of a united approach with the House of Representatives, which had also established a similar committee, to prevent overlapping efforts and enhance the effectiveness of the probe.
In light of this, the Senate agreed to merge its efforts with the House to form the “National Assembly Joint Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.” The committee is chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, with a diverse team that includes Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, Yahaya Abdullahi, Mohammed Monguno, and Solomon Olamilekan, among others.
Bamidele noted that consolidating the committees’ work would allow a comprehensive review of the challenges plaguing the petroleum sector and facilitate the development of sustainable solutions. The committee is expected to engage with stakeholders in the industry and thoroughly examine issues such as the importation of substandard petroleum products.
The restructured committee’s creation follows a motion raised in July 2024 by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, which highlighted the urgent need to address the entry of hazardous petroleum products and substandard diesel into Nigeria. As a result of this merger, the committee aims to foster accountability and improved practices within the sector, with its work set to proceed after formal communication with the House of Representatives and an official inauguration by the presiding officers of both chambers.
