Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives Committee on Environment has called on oil companies operating in the Nigeria Delta region of the country to use Environmental Impact Assessment survey report to tackle pipeline vandalism in their host communities
Chairman, House Committee on Environment Hon.Julius Pondi gave the charge when some Chief Executive Officers CEOs of Aiteo Oil Company Ltd and Oando Oil Co Ltd appeared during a rescheduled investigate hearing of the committee yesterday.
He explained that the investigation of the oil companies by the House Committee is geared towards ensuring that oil.companies carry out their operations in compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
While grilling the representatives of the invited oil operating companies on their compliance to environmental impact assessment reports, the lawmaker and other committee members queried whether they obtained EIA approval for their bagging activities and other operations.
Other House Committee members notably Hon.Amobi Ogar and Hon.Rodney Ambaowei called on the House Committee to undertake an oversight visit of the communities affected by oil spills from these oil companies.
Nonetheless, the representatives of the CEO of Oando Oil Co Ltd Philip Akudolo said that the major challenge affecting the oil companies operating in their operational areas is pipeline vandalism.
He told the House panel that the oil firm in compliance with the provision of oil regulations had carried out clean up of their environment.
On her own part the representatives of the CEO of Aiteo Oil Co Ltd Mrs Augustina Bisong said that the oil firm operation is being affected adversely by pipeline vandalism.
She told the House Committee that the production capacity of the company came to an all time low of less than a billion barrel of oil per day in 2023 due to oil theft
A mild drama played out when one of the official of Oando Oil Co said that the relationship with the host communities is not the major challenge of oil companies but the appetite to steal by the people of Southern Ijaw where it oZipertes.
Consequently, Hon.Ambaowei said that the statement is an indictment on his constituents and should be withdrawn which was done.
The Committee helsman Hon.Pondi thereafter insisted and charged these invited oil operating companies to ensure the effective implementation of EIA survey reports on their host communities.
