The House of Representatives on Tuesday tasked the Federal Government with the urgent need to rehabilitate oil and gas pipeline networks across the country to avert economic losses.
The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion on matters of urgent national importance sponsored by Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Hon. Muhammed Shehu, and 14 others.
In his lead debate, Hon. Shehu observed that Nigeria’s oil and gas sector remains the backbone of the national economy, contributing approximately 9% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generating over 90% of export revenues.
“The effective transportation of petroleum resources is dependent on the integrity of the country’s pipeline infrastructure.
“The House further notes that between 2018 and 2023, Nigeria recorded over 7,000 incidents of pipeline vandalism, resulting in the loss of $12.74 million worth of crude oil.
“The House is aware that in October 2024, crude oil supply to Shell’s Forcados Terminal was reduced by 50% due to sabotage, leading to loading delays and the risk of force majeure declarations.
“The House is concerned that in January 2025, a major pipeline spill from a facility owned by Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary caused environmental devastation in the Niger Delta, worsening pollution and economic hardship for host communities.
“The House is further concerned that in February 2025, Shell reported an oil spill near Port Harcourt caused by an overflow during pipeline flushing operations, highlighting ongoing risks in pipeline management.
“The House recognises that recurrent pipeline breaches have led to extensive environmental degradation, loss of livelihoods, and substantial national revenue losses, further straining the country’s economic and security landscape.
“The House further recognises that the Niger Delta region has suffered from decades of oil spills, causing severe health hazards, destruction of farmlands, and contamination of water sources, thereby exacerbating poverty among local communities.
“The House observes that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has intensified efforts to combat crude oil theft, uncovering 19 illegal pipeline connections and 58 illegal refineries in a single week in January 2025.
“The House believes that the deterioration of oil and gas pipeline networks not only threatens Nigeria’s energy security but also undermines the country’s potential sustainable economic development,” he noted.
To this end, the House resolved to constitute an Adhoc Committee to investigate the state of oil and gas pipelines across Nigeria, including the causes and impacts of frequent vandalism and operational failures.
The Adhoc Committee was mandated to assess the adequacy of existing security and maintenance measures in safeguarding national petroleum infrastructure as well as examine the effectiveness of past and present government interventions aimed at protecting pipelines.
To achieve its set objective, the Adhoc Committee is expected to engage stakeholders, including the NNPCL, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), National Security Agencies, oil companies, host communities, and civil society organisations, to recommend sustainable solutions.
The Adhoc Committee is expected to report its findings and recommendations to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
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