The Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum Resources have dismissed petitions challenging the award and structure of pipeline surveillance contracts after a joint roundtable, saying there was no credible evidence to support the allegations.
More than 300 federal lawmakers endorsed the continued engagement of the surveillance operator, passing a unanimous vote of confidence at the session. Data presented at the hearing indicated increased crude oil output and a significant reduction in pipeline vandalism since the arrangement began.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Senator Agom Jarigbe (APC, Cross River North), stressed the need for policy consistency, warning that disrupting an arrangement already yielding results could undermine progress in the sector. "Disrupting a system that is already delivering results would be counterproductive. Our responsibility is to ensure stability," he said.
Speakers noted that enhanced pipeline security had helped boost Nigeria’s oil production, with illegal tapping points largely dismantled and crude deliveries to export terminals improving markedly. Officials present at the session acknowledged the improvements recorded under the current surveillance framework.
