The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has launched investigations into petitions seeking the cancellation of gas distribution licences held by NIPCO Plc in several locations, alongside allegations of money laundering and abuse of office against a senior executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).
The committee announced the investigations on Monday in Abuja during a technical briefing marking the end of Downstream Week 2026. The allegations against NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President (Downstream), Dr Mumuni Dagazau, are yet to be established, the committee said, adding that the investigations would determine their merits.
The committee also constituted two sub-committees to conduct preliminary investigations into the separate petitions. The sub-committee investigating the allegations against Dagazau will be chaired by Aliyu Al-Mustapha, with Amobi Ogah as deputy chairman. It has seven days to complete its preliminary investigation and submit a report to the main committee.
The second sub-committee, chaired by Peter Aniekwe with Shehu Dalhatu as deputy chairman, will investigate the petition against NIPCO.
The petition seeks an investigation, suspension and cancellation of gas distribution licences issued to NIPCO by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The licences cover Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states, as well as the Lagos and Lekki Free Trade Zones.
Committee chairman Ikenga Ugochinyere said the lawmakers had not reached any conclusion on either matter and would give all parties an opportunity to respond.
“These are allegations, and the Committee has reached no conclusion on them. All parties will be given a full and fair opportunity to be heard,” he said.
Reps Raise Concerns Over Domestic Crude Supply
Beyond the two investigations, the committee reviewed developments in the downstream petroleum sector, including domestic refining, crude oil supply, pipeline security and petroleum product imports.
The lawmakers said reforms in the sector were yielding results, while identifying pipeline security, reliable crude supply to domestic refineries and effective regulation of imports as areas requiring sustained government attention.
Figures presented at the briefing indicated that domestic refineries had increased their contribution to national petrol supply by more than 75%, with no recorded supply shortfalls and more than 25 days of national sufficiency maintained.
The committee also highlighted the commissioning of the Port Harcourt Petroleum Product Laboratory, the licensing of a petroleum liquid trading exchange and the finalisation of a framework for a national strategic stock of up to 20 days. According to the committee, plans are in place to increase the strategic reserve to 90 days in 2027.
Ugochinyere, however, stressed that Nigeria’s energy security depended on protecting pipelines and ensuring that local refineries had adequate access to crude oil.
“There is no supply security without pipeline security,” he said, arguing that imports should supplement verified supply shortfalls rather than become a permanent substitute for domestic production.
The committee disclosed that it had opened an inquiry into allegations that some companies underpaid for crude oil. It also questioned NNPC Ltd over legacy transactions and refinery rehabilitation.
