By; TINA PHINEAS, Yola The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and several oil
By; TINA PHINEAS, Yola
The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and several oil companies to pay more than ₦100 billion in compensation to displaced persons, oil spill victims, and other affected parties across different states.
The resolutions followed the adoption of multiple reports by the House Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by Hon. Kwamoti Bitrus La’ori, after concluding investigations into several petitions involving land disputes, environmental degradation, and wrongful dismissals.
In one of the cases, the House ordered NNPCL to pay ₦32.15 billion to over 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ilorin, Kwara State, for alleged unlawful demolition, displacement, and land acquisition.
The affected areas include, Judges’ Quarters, F Division, Tanke Tipper Garage, Pipeline, Babaode, and Oshin. The payment is to be made within 60 days.
In a related resolution, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (now Seplat Energy) was directed to pay ₦72.624 billion to communities in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State for environmental damage caused by multiple oil spills recorded between 2003 and 2012.
New Nigerian reports that the committee’s findings were based on valuation reports by Messrs Soni Udoma and Partners, Ebito and Company, and Uduak Jeremiah Consult.
The House also upheld a petition filed by Award Winning Consult Limited on behalf of Mr. Asedere Othuke Edwin against British Oil and Gas Exploration Production Company over alleged unlawful termination of employment, ordering the payment of ₦100 million as compensation and damages.
Additionally, the House directed TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to include Ikot Abasi, Ibeno, and Mbo Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State in the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) as required by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. The agencies were further instructed to pay accrued benefits for the period 2022 to 2025, representing years of exclusion.
In another case, the House ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) to pay all outstanding salaries and entitlements owed to Mr. Dogo Isaac Imooje for the period between February 2013 and September 2018, following his wrongful dismissal.
Speaking after the adoption of the reports, Hon. La’ori said the resolutions demonstrate the Committee’s commitment to fairness and accountability in handling citizens’ petitions.
“The Committee will continue to uphold fairness, transparency, and accountability in addressing the concerns of Nigerians.
“Every citizen deserves justice, and this House remains committed to ensuring that justice is not delayed or denied,” he stated.
La’ori also commended the leadership of the 10th House of Representatives, under Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, GCON, for its support in strengthening legislative oversight and promoting public trust in governance.
COMMENTS