The House of Representatives has inaugurated an Advert Hoc Committee to research the alleged mismanagement of funds meant for oil spill clean-up initiatives within the Niger Delta.
Talking on the inauguration on Friday, the Committee Chairman, Okpolupm Etteh (PDP, Akwa Ibom), mentioned the transfer represents a renewed legislative dedication to accountability, transparency, and environmental justice for oil-producing communities which have lengthy suffered the affect of air pollution and neglect.
Mr Etteh, in his deal with, mentioned the Home resolved to arrange the committee following “troubling experiences” of inefficiency, poor coordination, and monetary mismanagement among the many companies accountable for clean-up operations within the area.
“The Niger Delta has confronted years of environmental degradation and untold harm as a consequence of oil exploration and frequent spills,” he mentioned.
The lawmaker famous that regardless of billions of naira allotted to numerous clean-up initiatives over time, most affected communities stay unsafe and uninhabitable. He cited persistent allegations that environmental remediation initiatives had been poorly executed or deserted, whereas residents continued to undergo well being and financial penalties.
Mr Etteh confused that the committee’s mandate is to not goal people or establishments unfairly however to uncover the reality behind the failed clean-up initiatives and suggest reforms for sustainable environmental restoration.
“I need to emphasise that this committee shouldn’t be on a witch-hunt. Nonetheless, we won’t hesitate to ask robust inquiries to unravel the reality for posterity and to uphold the integrity of our mission,” he famous.
He added that the committee would consider the utilisation of clean-up funds, assessment the efficiency of accountable companies, and have interaction stakeholders, together with host communities, consultants, and civil society teams. Area visits to affected areas are additionally deliberate to acquire firsthand proof.
Mr Etteh’s remarks come amid rising public discontent over the sluggish tempo of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the flagship company for the Ogoniland clean-up and different federal interventions which have produced restricted outcomes regardless of repeated budgetary provisions.
A number of experiences have questioned how funds earmarked for environmental remediation have been utilised, with some initiatives both unexecuted or poorly managed.
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The committee, in line with Mr Etteh, will “function transparently and seek the advice of broadly” to make sure its findings mirror the realities on the bottom and restore public confidence within the authorities’s dedication to the Niger Delta.
He mentioned, “Companies shall be held accountable, group views shall be valued, and our conclusions shall be based mostly on factual proof somewhat than feelings. Our purpose is to light up the reality and make sure that the Niger Delta receives the justice it rightfully deserves.
“We are going to conduct our work with professionalism, patriotism, and a robust respect for the rule of regulation.”
The lawmaker known as for the cooperation of presidency companies, host communities, and the media to allow the committee to realize its mandate, assuring that its report can be “complete, trustworthy, and impactful.”
