Abuja: The Nigerian Senate has reconstituted its Ad-hoc Committee to investigate alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, dismissing reports that some stakeholders were attempting to halt the oil probe. In a bid to conduct a more comprehensive investigation that aims to sanitize the petroleum industry, the upper chamber has communicated its decision to the House of Representatives.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the Senate, under the leadership of Deputy President Senator Barau Jubrin, made these announcements during a plenary session. The leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, sponsored a motion advocating for a joint investigation by the two chambers. He highlighted that the House of Representatives had already debated the issue and formed its own ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter.
Senator Bamidele emphasized the need for the Ad-hoc Committees from both chambers to collaborate to avoid duplication of their constitutional duties. H
e proposed reconstituting the committee as the ‘National Assembly Joint Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.’ After his presentation, the Senate agreed to rename the committee accordingly and resolved to inform the House of Representatives to form an equivalent ad-hoc committee to work alongside the Senate.
Senator Bamidele will continue to chair the National Assembly Joint Ad-hoc Committee. The committee members include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Senator Mohammed Monguno, Senator Solomon Olamilekan, among others. The Senate also decided to communicate its resolution to the House of Representatives, after which the Joint Ad-hoc Committee will be inaugurated by the presiding officers of both chambers.
Previously, on July 3rd, 2024, the Senate debated a motion on the urgent need to investigate the importation of hazardous petroleum products and the dumping of substandard diesel into Nigeria, led by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong. Subs
equently, on July 11th, 2024, the Senate rebranded the committee as the Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry. After consultations with key stakeholders, the Bamidele Committee paused its activities to conduct a joint session with the lower chamber, aiming to formulate effective solutions to the industry’s challenges.