Reps order probe of N5.6bn pipeline protection contract by NNPC

The House of Representatives on Wednesday ordered a probe of the N5.6 billion which Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) spends yearly on oil pipeline protection in violation of the NSCDC Act.

The House gave the directive in a resolution following a motion moved by Robinson Uwak (PDP-Akwa Ibom), which was adopted without debate.

The three committees charged with the investigations are those of Petroleum Resources (Upstream); Interior; National Security and Intelligence.

The report of the investigation is expected to be presented to the House within four weeks.

According to Uwak, the NNPC spends N5.6 billion yearly on the protection of oil pipelines in violation of the NSCDC Act, which empowers the corps to protect the pipelines.

Section 3 (1) e states that: “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps shall maintain 24 hours surveillance over infrastructure, sites and projects of the federal, states and local governments.”