The House of Representatives, Thursday, resolved to set up an ad-hoc Committee to probe the implementation of the $22 billion Brass Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG project alleged to have been poorly managed.
The special panel is expected to investigate the expenditure and implementation of the $22 billion gas project and report back in six weeks for further Legislative input.
This development was sequel to a motion promoted by Kingsley Ogundu Chinda,PDP, Obio Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers State entitled: “Urgent Need To Investigate The Implementation of The $22 billion Brass Liquefied Gas Project’.
Leading the debate, Chinda said, among others, “There have been several allegations of abuse and mismanagement of funds totalling about $22 billion meant for take-off and running of the Brass project. The Brass LNG project was originally set up in 2003 with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, owing 49 percent and other affiliates namely, Conoco Phillips, ENI and Chevron holding 17 percent. The project has been stuck in the planning stages for more than a decade with some Western partners having pulled out because of tough operating conditions and an unfavourable Investment environment.”
He explained that provisions of Section 88(1)(a), (b)(I) and (Ii) and (2)b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which confers each House of National Assembly power to conduct or carry out investigations into matters such as this.
After Chinda’s submission, Rep Emma Egoh, PDP, Lagos wanted an amendment to reflect that the Committee on Gas Resources should probe the matter but was unanimously rejected by members.
The motion for a probe was approved through a voice vote after the presiding officer, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, put the motion to a voice vote.
