The House of Representatives has charged its downstream Petroleum Resources Committee to look into any environmental harm brought on by oil firms’ disregard for the the law governing the oil industry.
According to The PUNCH, this followed a proposal made on Wednesday at the plenary session by Ahmadu Jaha of the APC in Borno, the resolution was passed.
Jaha, who presented the motion, claimed that many oil wells in oil-producing areas have been drained and are no longer economically viable, leading local and multinational oil and gas firms to sell up their previous upstream holdings.
According to the report, to prevent environmental problems or disruption with other marine operations, it is best practice internationally to decommission oil well sites that are financially unviable.
According to Jaha, citing section 232 of the PIA, the legislation mandates that oil corporations must guarantee that the environment returns to its natural state after the conclusion of their exploratory activities by dismantling and removing non-viable sites.
“Article 233 of the Petroleum Industry Law provides for the establishment of a fund for the mitigation of negative environmental impacts associated with the decommissioning or abandonment of oil and gas fields and assets,” he said.
According to him, there are “huge hazards to host communities” due to the harmful gas emissions from abandoned facilities that are leading to inexplicable illnesses and fatalities in individuals.
“Abandoned facilities are impeding water transportation and causing unimaginable dangers for farmers,” he added.
