By Mercy Gadia Adi
The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and the Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft have joined forces to introduce five bills aimed at tackling the pressing issues affecting Nigeria’s oil industry.
According to Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Chairman of both committees, these proposed bills are part of a legislative intervention designed to support national efforts in securing oil and gas assets and curbing crude oil theft.
The committees’ decision to work together stems from their shared jurisdictional focus on crude oil production and export. Doguwa explained, “In my view, these two committees essentially deal with the same core issue: crude oil. While one focuses on the theft and security aspect, the other covers the drilling and export processes. That’s why we’ve decided to meet jointly and work together on these legislative proposals.”
Read Also:Reps Public Account Committee Recovers ₦28.7 Billion ($19.24M) From Oil CompaniesÂ
One of the bills seeks to establish a National Commission empowered to prevent and prosecute pipeline vandalism and other oil sector-related crimes. Doguwa emphasized that this move is a response to the increasing insecurity and criminal activities around oil-producing areas.
“The Committees and indeed the entire House are deeply concerned about the increasing insecurity and criminal activities around oil-producing areas. This intervention is a legislative response intended to complement government efforts in protecting these critical national assets,” he said.
Another significant bill, championed by the Speaker of the House, aims to establish a commission to oversee the decommissioning of oil assets. This issue has raised concerns among host communities and industry stakeholders due to gaps in oversight. Doguwa noted, “The decommissioning process is a major policy priority of the current administration, but there are gaps in oversight. That’s why the Speaker and other leaders of the House have shown interest in backing legislation that provides statutory authority and legal framework for a commission to manage this process, while also ensuring that the interests of host communities are taken into account.”
Each of the five bills under consideration will be sponsored by different members of the committees. However, they will collectively be presented as committee-driven legislation to reflect the collaborative effort and seriousness of the intervention. Doguwa emphasized, “These bills will bear the names of different committee members, but they are not individual efforts. They represent our collective commitment to addressing the challenges in the sector and fulfilling the expectations of the leadership, government, and the Nigerian people.”
The House of Representatives has been working to address the issue of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. In February, the Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft met with the Chief of Naval Staff to strategize on collaborative initiatives for effective policing of pipelines and other critical assets in the oil and gas industry.
The proposed bills are expected to provide a legislative framework for securing Nigeria’s oil and gas assets and curbing crude oil theft. By working together, the committees aim to ensure that the bills are comprehensive and effective in addressing the challenges facing the sector.
The joint effort by the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and the Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft demonstrates the commitment of the Nigerian government to protecting its critical national assets and promoting the overall development of the oil and gas sector.