House of Representatives Reps Insist Ad-hoc Committee, investigating crude oil theft has insisted on appearance, physically, of Group Chief Executive Officers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority, (NIWA).
Chairman of the Committee, Alhassan Doguwa, gave the instruction on Friday, which was the second day of the investigative hearing of the House Committee whereby Heads of Agencies were invited; but rather, they sent Directors as representatives.
Hon. Doguwa stated that most of the invited CEOs had written to the House ad-hoc Committee, asking for permission to be represented by these Agencys subordinate staff as they are not disposed to appear in person and honour the invitation.
Quoting section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, (as amended), he said the House probe panel has the powers to invite and cause the appearance of any individual, government official or corporate entity charged with the responsibility of administration of public funds.
At the hearing, the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, (NMDPRA) and the Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Authority, (NUPRA), said the pipelines, well-heads and flow stations are the major targets of these oil thieves. They also blamed faulty metering procedures, faulty instruments and lack of technology as impediments in the efforts of these agencies in tackling oil theft.
A representative of the CEO of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed and Director, Operations, Oseni had told the committee that there is no proper monitoring of the metering of the crude oil produced for exports due to lack of collaboration among agencies. A Committee member, Rep Awaji Inombek Abiante, argued that pipeline location is not really the major cause of oil theft, but that rather, its the neglect of oil host communities.
In his ruling, the Committee Chairman, Rep. Rurum said Heads of all the invited agencies must appear in person on Monday, September 11.
He also requested that the invited CEOs of these agencies come with a list of all other agencies working in the export terminal of all the nations oil sector.
