The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, appears before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Petroleum for an investigative hearing, alongside chief executives and senior officials from key regulatory agencies in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the session brings together representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), as well as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in what lawmakers describe as a critical oversight engagement.
The investigative hearing, convened by the Joint Committee on Petroleum, focuses on regulatory compliance, operational transparency and broader developments within Nigeria’s petroleum industry. Lawmakers seek clarifications on documentation, sector performance and institutional coordination among agencies.
Mediaplusng.com reports that at the commencement of the session, Minister Lokpobiri informs the committee that although the ministry receives a request to submit summary documents for legislative review, the required documentation is not yet fully compiled.
Addressing the lawmakers, the Minister explains that the ministry and its affiliated agencies need additional time to properly assemble and organize the materials requested by the committee. He notes that presenting incomplete documentation may not adequately serve the purpose of the investigative process.
In further details obtained by Mediaplusng.com, Lokpobiri formally appeals for a two-week grace period to enable the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the relevant regulatory bodies to compile and submit comprehensive documents for consideration by the National Assembly.
The Minister emphasizes the ministry’s commitment to transparency and accountability, assuring lawmakers that the requested documents will be submitted within the proposed timeframe. He reiterates that the delay is procedural rather than substantive, aimed at ensuring accuracy and completeness.
Senior officials from NUPRC and NMDPRA also attend the hearing, alongside executives of NNPCL, reflecting the strategic importance of the engagement between the executive arm and the legislature on petroleum sector governance.
Observers note that the appearance of top petroleum sector leaders before the National Assembly underscores the constitutional oversight role of lawmakers in monitoring activities within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, a key driver of national revenue and economic stability.
The Joint Committee is expected to review the submitted documents upon receipt and may schedule subsequent sessions to further examine findings, seek clarifications and make recommendations where necessary.
Industry stakeholders say the outcome of the investigative hearing could influence policy direction, regulatory reforms and operational standards within the upstream, midstream and downstream segments of the petroleum value chain.
As Nigeria continues to navigate energy sector reforms, fiscal adjustments and global market pressures, collaboration between the Ministry, regulatory agencies, NNPCL and the National Assembly remains central to strengthening transparency, boosting investor confidence and ensuring sustainable petroleum sector growth.
The Minister’s request for additional time now places the focus on the forthcoming submission of documents, which lawmakers say will provide the basis for deeper legislative scrutiny and informed decision-making in the interest of the Nigerian public.
