ABUJA, Nigeria — The House of Representatives ad hoc committee, led by Rep Alhassan Rurum, has mandated the personal appearance of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd, NNPC, and other agency heads for the ongoing investigation into crude oil theft.
This comes after several CEOs sent directors as their representatives, despite formal invitations to appear before the committee.
The agencies being summoned on Saturday, September 9, 2023, include the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA.
The leaders of these agencies must now appear in person on September 11, said Rurum, expressing his disappointment at the absenteeism of agency heads thus far.
“Most of the CEOs asked for permission to send representatives, stating they were not disposed to appear in person,” Rurum mentioned. “We have the authority to summon any individual, government officials, and corporate entities responsible for the administration of public funds. Their appearance is non-negotiable.”
During the previous hearing, the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, and the Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Authority, NUPRA, pointed out that the main targets of oil thieves are pipelines and flow stations. They also cited faulty metering procedures, lack of advanced instruments, and an absence of modern technology as significant hurdles in the federal government’s efforts to combat oil theft.
Rurum has now instructed the CEOs to bring with them a comprehensive list of all other agencies operating in the export terminals of Nigeria’s oil sector.
“This investigation is critical for the integrity of Nigeria’s oil sector,” Rurum said. “We need to get to the bottom of this issue, and that will require the full cooperation and transparency of these agencies.”
The decision to insist on the personal appearance of the CEOs highlights the seriousness with which the Nigerian government is approaching the issue of crude oil theft, a problem that has significant implications for the country’s economy and international reputation.
The mandate for the CEOs to appear in person will likely add gravity to an already tense situation and could potentially catalyze more stringent regulatory action against oil theft in the future.
