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Reps probe JTF over destruction of illegal refineries

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In from Olumide Olaoluwa . . .

The House of Representatives has commenced investigation into activities of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger-Delta region over the burning and destruction of equipment seized from illegal refineries operators.

Nasiru Garo (APC Kano), chairman of the Ad hoc Committee on Niger Delta JTF, told newsmen on Tuesday that the committee has already invited stakeholders over the issue.

According to him, some of those expected to appear before the Committee include: management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Ministries of Environment and Health, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and host communities.

The House mandated the committee to “investigate the activities of the Task Force in the Niger Delta Area, especially as it relates to the burning and destruction of equipment seized from illegal refineries operators.”

The Adhoc committee was also mandated by the House to investigate the fire outbreak in Azuuama Community in Bayelsa State on July 9, 2015 allegedly caused by the use of dilapidated infrastructure and equipment by Nigeria Agip Oil Company that resulted in the death of 14 persons.

Read also: Reps to probe AMCON over N5tn debts

According to the Green Chamber, the Garo- headed Committee should investigate the activities of AGIP “with a view to ensuring that it carries out improvement of its facilities to forestall any such further incidents in the future and also determine the circumstances that led to the death of the 14 persons in Azuzuama Community.”

Assuring that nobody will be witch-hunted in the course of the investigative public hearing, the lawmaker said: “The committee will visit AGIP installations across the region with the view to ascertain the integrity of the company’s oil equipment and ensure that they are comparable to what obtains in other parts of the world.

“We are not going after anybody, we are just going there to investigate and see what really happened. And also to create avenue through which we can make life better for the entire people of Nigeria.

“Nigeria is not an isolated country, AGIP oil is not operating only in Nigeria we believe it is operating in other parts of the world. While I say win-win situation, if we go and see that there are lapses, or AGIP is doing its operations not the same as what they are doing elsewhere in the world, we are going to tell AGIP you have to do your activities in line with international best practices.”

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