Barring any last-minute change, the House of Representative will dissolve the Joint Adhoc Committee on Downstream/Midstream.
The House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi Jr who gave the hint in a statement yesterday said the house will replace it with another committee with the same mandate.
The dissolution of the committee is coming on the heels of a series of power plays, which have divided the lawmakers involved in oil sector related investigations after the recent spat between Dangote Refinery and other industry players on the one hand, and NNPCL and NMDPRA on the other.
The House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) is headed by Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, while the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream) is headed by Rep. Henry Okojie.
Daily Trust reports that the committee was mandated to “Investigate the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues.
The House, following the adoption of a motion by Rep. Esosa Iyawe called for the suspension of the Chief Executive (CEO) of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed pending conclusive investigations into the allegations against the Authority.
There were also calls for the suspension of the NNPCL GCEO, Mele Kyari over the matter.
However, 50 members under the aegis of ‘Concerned Members’ kicked against the call to sack Kyari and Ahmed. The group led by Rep. Famous Osawaru described the call through a motion by the deputy House spokesperson as premature and against the established culture of the parliament.
According to the lawmakers, it is against the rules of the house to delve into an issue that is under investigation by a committee of the House.
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