Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, on Thursday assured that the ongoing investigation into the alleged mismanagement of Oil Spill Clean-Up funds in the Niger Delta was not intended to witch-hunt any institution or individual but to strengthen governance processes and prevent future mismanagement of public resources.
According to a report from the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, as of November 2023, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) announced that $360 million had been released for the clean-up of polluted Ogoni land in the Niger Delta region.
Hon. Tajudeen, who stated this in Abuja at the opening of the investigative hearing chaired by Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, tasked all federal agencies and community-based organisations involved in the Ogoni clean-up exercise to improve coordination to ensure that the projects deliver tangible benefits to the people, including job creation, improved livelihoods, and ecosystem restoration.
Speaker Tajudeen, who reiterated the legislature’s determination to ensure that public funds are properly utilised for the benefit of all Nigerians, said: “Our parliament conducts legislative activities to ensure that public funds are not only spent but are spent efficiently for the good of all.
“This investigation will help us determine who manages these funds, how they are applied, which communities are to benefit, and whether transparency and accountability were maintained throughout the process.”
Represented by the Majority Chief Whip, Hon. Usman Kumo, Speaker Tajudeen called on all the “agencies concerned to appear before this committee with the necessary information and evidence that will help the committee make fair, balanced, and just recommendations.
“The House will continue to provide legislative oversight to ensure that the goals of the oil spill clean-up are achieved in a transparent and impactful manner.”
He therefore charged members of the committee to carry out their assignment with utmost diligence, fairness, and professionalism, urging them to be guided by national interest and the welfare of the people of the Niger Delta.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, explained that the investigative hearing was aimed at uncovering the truth behind the utilisation of funds allocated for HYPREP and other related interventions, with a view to ensuring that affected communities receive the relief and restitution they deserve.
While reaffirming the Ad-hoc Committee’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and justice in the handling of funds earmarked for environmental remediation in the region, he vowed that the Ad-hoc Committee “will scrutinise project implementation, procurement processes, training programmes, intelligence coordination, and the actual delivery of remediation and restitution to Niger Delta communities.”
He noted that the probe would also assess the performance of regulatory agencies, the level of transparency in contract awards, and the progress of remediation projects already funded by the federal government and its partners.
“When monitoring and verification reveal gaps, delays, or irregularities, the committee will not hesitate to identify those responsible and recommend corrective measures. This is about ensuring that funds meant for environmental recovery are used effectively for the people who have suffered the most,” Hon. Etteh added.
He assured that all proceedings of the committee would be recorded for accountability, while witnesses appearing before it must provide truthful testimonies, original documents, and complete evidence of work done.
He further called on government agencies and institutions involved in the oil spill clean-up process to fully cooperate with the committee by submitting all relevant information and documents promptly.
“These agencies include the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Federal Ministry of Finance, and other related entities.”
Hon. Etteh also commended civil society organisations, community representatives, and technical partners for their continuous advocacy and support in ensuring that environmental justice is achieved in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the committee would put measures in place to protect individuals who provide sensitive information in good faith.
“Let me be clear — this is not a political theatre or a public show. It is a rigorous, evidence-driven inquiry aimed at restoring accountability, recovering misapplied public funds, addressing institutional failures, and ensuring that real remediation reaches our communities.”
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