Reps Panel Vows Accountability in Niger Delta Oil Spill Clean-Up Probe

The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the management of oil spill clean-up funds in the Niger Delta has pledged to ensure transparency, accountability, and justice in the use of resources allocated for environmental restoration in the region.

Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, gave the assurance on Thursday during an investigative hearing held at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Etteh said the committee was determined to uncover any irregularities in the disbursement and utilisation of funds meant for oil spill remediation projects, stressing that the people of the Niger Delta deserved to benefit fully from environmental recovery initiatives.

“This investigation is not about witch-hunting, but about ensuring accountability. We owe it to the people of the Niger Delta to ensure that funds allocated for clean-up projects are properly utilised and that there are tangible results on the ground,” she said.

The lawmaker emphasised that the committee’s work aligns with the House’s broader commitment to good governance and environmental justice, noting that oil-producing communities have suffered decades of ecological degradation with limited remediation efforts.

Etteh also assured stakeholders that the committee would conduct a thorough, fact-based inquiry to identify gaps, lapses, and possible mismanagement in the administration of clean-up projects, including those under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

She urged all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as contractors and civil society groups, to cooperate with the committee by providing accurate information and necessary documents to aid its work.

“Our goal is to make recommendations that will not only bring accountability but also strengthen the mechanisms for future environmental interventions,” she added.

The hearing was attended by representatives of key government agencies, oil companies, and community leaders from the Niger Delta, who made presentations on the progress and challenges facing ongoing clean-up efforts.

The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the House for further legislative action at the conclusion of its investigation.