Representatives will investigate mismanagement of funds spent on oil spill cleanup

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has inaugurated an Ad hoc Committee to investigate the mismanagement of funds released by the Federal Government for the cleanup of the oil spill in the Niger Delta.

In his remarks at Friday’s ceremony in Abuja, the speaker expressed confidence that the committee would deliver a fair, just and balanced report.

Abbas, who was represented by Gombe lawmaker Bello Kumo, stressed that a thorough investigation was necessary for the House to offer solutions to the oil spill problem in the Niger Delta.

He said: “We have to understand the causes of this mismanagement, we have to understand what is involved in all the funds dedicated to the clean-up, we have to know the capacity of the administrators appointed by the government to manage the clean-up funds.

“We have to understand whether there is accountability in the entire process of managing cleanup funds; if we can understand that, then we can offer solutions.”

In his remarks, Chairman of the committee, Okpolupm Etteh, said the people of the Niger Delta have faced years of environmental degradation and incalculable damage due to oil exploration and frequent oil spills.

According to him, various government agencies have been established or given responsibility for carrying out environmental remediation and clean-up operations in response.

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He said: “Unfortunately, disturbing reports of alleged mismanagement, inefficiency and poor coordination have clouded these initiatives.

“Similarly, this house has also received reports that funds allocated for clean-up efforts are not producing the expected results, with the result that communities are still impacted, livelihoods are in jeopardy, and community trust is reduced.

“Our committee was given the important task of uncovering the truth, evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, and proposing reforms for a sustainable solution.

“Our goals are clear. We will investigate the use of funds intended for environmental improvements, review the actual implementation of cleanup projects, identify deficiencies in the institutional framework, and engage all relevant stakeholders, including host communities, experts, and civil society.

“Most importantly, we will recommend specific actions to improve performance and rebuild public trust.”