Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) don join mouth together talk say dem no support the new bill wey wan create “National Commission for Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Installations, 2024.”
Dem yarn this one for Abuja during one public hearing wey House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) organize. Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, NUPRC Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe and NNPC top man, all talk say the bill no make sense because the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 don already cover wetin the bill wan do.
For statement wey NUPRC Corporate Communications oga, Eniola Akinkuotu, release, dem talk say the PIA already get law wey handle decommissioning and abandonment matter, so to create another agency go just scatter things and confuse people.
The new bill dey try bring one commission wey go manage how oil and gas companies go remove or dismantle their old equipment and repair environment after oil finish for that place. But the petroleum ministry people talk say the thing go just cause double work and fit even scare foreign investors wey wan bring money come Nigeria.
Minister Lokpobiri yarn say, “Creating another commission no go solve any community wahala because the Host Community Development Trust Fund don already dey handle that one. That fund don already gather like ₦400 billion for community projects.”
He still add say if National Assembly no step down the bill, e fit send wrong signal to international investors say Nigeria dey change law every time, and e no go good for business.
NUPRC oga Gbenga Komolafe join talk say for global standard, na the same upstream regulator dey handle decommissioning matter. If Nigeria divide am, e go scatter the system wey PIA don already arrange.
NNPC Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udobong Ntia, still follow talk say, “Decommissioning no be something wey dey happen every time. For example, NNPC no go get any decommissioning work till 2045. So wetin this new commission go dey do before that time?”
House Committee Chairman on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, talk say the bill na to help solve local environment wahala for Niger Delta communities. But the committee go first look all the submissions before dem carry the matter go National Assembly for final decision.
