Mr. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Petroleum Resources downstream, has given his assurance that he will take steps to recover the alleged missing $100 billion in oil revenue proceeds.
During the committee’s inauguration at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, Mr. Ugochinyere stated that his committee would also investigate the alleged failure to remit approximately $20 billion in royalties to the Federation Account by the relevant players in the oil and gas sector.
The politician, who hails from Imo State, pledged that the committee would fulfill its responsibilities in legislating for energy security, promoting professionalism in the petroleum sector, driving economic transformation, ensuring accountability, and implementing institutional reforms in the oil and gas sector of the economy.
He also expressed the committee’s readiness to probe the abuse of the petroleum subsidy system, which was intended to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians but failed to achieve its objectives.
Mr. Ugochinyere emphasized that the various stakeholders in the petroleum sector should collaborate with the committee in carrying out its duties and be open to necessary positive changes.
He made it clear that there would be no victimization or witch-hunting, but the committee would diligently serve the nation.
Mr. Ugochinyere highlighted the House’s commitment to receiving the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Oil and Gas Sector Report for 2021, which falls under the committee’s jurisdiction and reflects their dedication to addressing the challenges in the sector.
The committee’s responsibilities include oversight of petroleum refineries, supervision of petroleum products marketing, examination of petrochemicals, overseeing the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), addressing matters related to the Downstream Petroleum Sector, and overseeing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (now known as Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.) and its downstream activities in general.
Their duties also encompass supervising the Petroleum Equalization Fund and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), as well as examining and scrutinizing the annual budget estimates of the NNPC, its subsidiaries, and all oil-related companies, presenting them to the House for consideration and approval in collaboration with relevant committees.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reported that a joint operation involving Nigerian military troops and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives resulted in the elimination of 52 terrorists and the apprehension of a leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Bauchi State.
The ISWAP leader was captured in a sting operation at Tarum, a village outside Bauchi Metropolis, as disclosed by Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, in a statement on Friday.
While the DHQ did not disclose the name of the arrested ISWAP leader, it revealed that the individual held a significant role in the North Central and North West zones.
The military high command emphasized that targeting terrorist leadership is crucial in ensuring the safety and security of citizens, with ongoing operations consistently diminishing the fighting force and capacity of these groups.
Maj.-Gen. Buba noted that Nigerian Air Force airstrikes played a key role in destroying terrorist leaders’ enclaves in the North West and North Central zones in the past week.
The week’s operations resulted in the neutralization of 52 terrorists, the arrest of 204 individuals associated with terrorism, and the rescue of 234 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, in the South-South zone, troops recovered stolen crude oil and illegal refined products, destroyed various equipment and sites used for illegal activities, and seized a substantial amount of weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and other items associated with criminal operations.
Solomon Arase, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, has expressed distress regarding the escalating violence against security personnel, particularly police officers, in the South East region.
The former Inspector General of Police highlighted the growing number of police officers’ wives becoming widows due to attacks by gunmen in the area. In a statement by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, Arase conveyed his apprehension during a courtesy visit by leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, in Abuja.
Arase emphasized that it’s essential to communicate to the assailants that the police are not their adversaries and have committed no wrongdoing. He lamented the loss of numerous serving officers in the South East, urging the perpetrators to recognize the police as friends and cease making widows out of officers’ wives, who are essentially their sisters.
Furthermore, Arase assured that the Commission has addressed the perceived marginalization of the South East in police representation nationwide.
Elder Onwu Arua, the leader of the Ohanaeze delegation, expressed concern about the lack of interest among people in the South East regarding the ongoing police recruitment exercise. He urged the Police Service Commission to devise strategies to address this issue.
On Friday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) alleged that Governor Peter Mba was facing pressure from “Aso Rock” to discredit the Supreme Court ahead of the judgment on its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, scheduled for December 15. IPOB based this claim on Mba’s characterization of the group as a proscribed organization, a statement he made after visiting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
IPOB cautioned the governor against making a “costly mistake” by using the group’s name to gain favor from Tinubu’s administration. In a statement by Powerful, a spokesperson for IPOB, it was emphasized that Mba’s comments were deemed reckless and unguarded. The statement alleged that Mba, under pressure from the federal government, accused IPOB of being responsible for the sit-at-home protest and insecurity in the Southeast.
The statement pointed out that Mba had previously condemned Simon Ekpa, who was associated with the enforcement of the Monday sit-at-home. IPOB expressed skepticism about the governor’s motives and suggested that his statements were influenced by the Tinubu administration.
IPOB urged the public to dismiss the governor’s remarks, describing him as a “cowardly governor” making unfounded accusations. The statement reminded Mba that IPOB is not easily intimidated and warned against attempting to use the group’s name for political advantage.
The statement concluded by calling on the Nigerian Supreme Court Justices not to succumb to blackmail, urging the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who was acquitted by the Court of Appeal. IPOB reiterated its commitment to the cause of self-determination and emphasized that the movement would not yield to blackmail or pressure.
