Speaker of House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has formally launched an ad hoc committee tasked with investigating the alleged mismanagement of crude oil spill clean-up funds allocated to the Niger Delta.
The inauguration ceremony took place on Friday in Abuja. Represented by Rep. Bello Kumo (APC–Gombe), Speaker Tajudeen stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in handling the environmental remediation efforts in the region, which has long suffered from the consequences of oil exploration.
> “We must understand the causes of the mismanagement. We must understand what was involved in the entire funds dedicated for the clean-up,” Tajudeen said.
“We have to find out the capacity of the managers that were put in place by government to manage the funds. We must also determine whether there was accountability in the entire process. If we can fully grasp these factors, then we can offer real solutions.”
The newly appointed committee is chaired by Rep. Okpolupm Etteh (PDP–Akwa Ibom), who described the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta as both long-standing and devastating.
Etteh acknowledged that multiple government agencies had been assigned the task of overseeing clean-up operations, but raised concerns over widespread reports of inefficiency, mismanagement, and lack of coordination.
> “Unfortunately, troubling reports of alleged mismanagement, inefficiency and poor coordination have overshadowed these initiatives,” he noted.
“Funds allocated for clean-up efforts have not produced the anticipated outcomes. Communities remain affected, livelihoods hang in the balance, and public trust has eroded.”
Etteh outlined the committee’s mandate, which includes examining how clean-up funds were utilised, evaluating the execution of clean-up projects, identifying structural deficiencies, and engaging with stakeholders such as local communities, civil society groups, and environmental experts.
> “Our objectives are clear. We will investigate the utilisation of funds, assess the actual progress of remediation projects, and recommend targeted reforms. This is not a witch-hunt — but we will not shy away from asking tough questions to uncover the truth,” he added.
The chairman pledged that the committee would carry out its duties with full transparency, conduct field assessments, and ensure that the voices of affected communities are heard and respected.
He called for the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders — from government agencies and civil society to the media — to support the committee’s mission of restoring integrity to the clean-up efforts and achieving environmental justice in the Niger Delta.
NAN
