By Comfort Olayinka
In a determined move to combat persistent challenges in Nigeria’s oil sector, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and the Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft have announced plans to jointly present five strategic bills aimed at reforming the industry.
Chairman of both committees, Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, revealed during a joint session on Tuesday that the legislative proposals are designed to enhance security, prevent oil theft, and provide legal frameworks for critical oversight functions.
One of the flagship bills seeks to establish a National Commission to tackle pipeline vandalism and prosecute oil-related crimes, a step Doguwa described as a “legislative response to national security concerns.”
Another key proposal, backed by the Speaker of the House, focuses on setting up a Commission to oversee the decommissioning of oil assets addressing long-standing grievances among host communities and filling oversight gaps in the process.
“These initiatives are not solo efforts. Each bill may carry the name of a different lawmaker, but they reflect our united commitment to fixing the sector,” Doguwa stated.
“In my view, these two committees essentially deal with the same core issue: crude oil. While one focuses on the theft and security aspect, the other covers the drilling and export processes. That’s why we’ve decided to meet jointly and work together on these legislative proposals,” he noted.
“These bills will bear the names of different committee members, but they are not individual efforts. They represent our collective commitment to addressing the challenges in the sector and fulfilling the expectations of the leadership, government, and the Nigerian people,” he concluded
With both committees sharing jurisdiction over crude oil issues from production to security the collaboration marks a new phase in legislative activism aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s most critical economic lifeline.
