Reps dissolves ad-hoc committee on NNPC, NMDPRA, announces new panel

The House of Representatives has dissolved the ad-hoc Joint Committee on Downstream and Midstream, which was investigating the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Rep. Akin Rotimi announced the dissolution in Abuja on Monday.

He noted that the committee would be replaced by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same investigative mandate, focusing on issues such as the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the lack of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security matters.

He said that the dissolution was to ensure the efficacy and independence of the investigation.

The spokesperson said that the new committee would consist of members selected for their expertise, competence and integrity.

Rotimi said that the House remained committed to addressing the vital issues and ensuring a thorough oversight.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports on July 3, 118 members under the banner of “1 AGENDA” placed an advertorial in three national dailies allegedly aimed at protecting NNPCL in the aborted probe panel.

NAN reports that some lawmakers whose names appeared in the advertorial distanced themselves from the advertorial.

(NAN)