The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has opened investigations into petitions seeking the cancellation of gas distribution licences held by NIPCO Plc and alleging money laundering and abuse of office against an NNPC Limited executive.
Committee Chairman Ikenga Ugochinyere announced the decision on Monday in Abuja at a technical briefing that marked the end of Downstream Week 2026.
He described the complaints as serious and requiring urgent attention.The committee constituted two sub-committees to conduct preliminary investigations.
The panel examining allegations against Dr Mumuni Dagazau, Executive Vice President (Downstream) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, is chaired by Aliyu Al-Mustapha, with Amobi Ogah as deputy chairman. It has seven days to report its findings.
A second sub-committee, chaired by Peter Aniekwe with Shehu Dalhatu as deputy chairman, will look into the petition against NIPCO Plc.
That petition calls for the investigation, suspension and cancellation of gas distribution licences issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states, as well as the Lagos and Lekki Free Trade Zones.
Ugochinyere stressed that the allegations had not been established and that the committee had reached no conclusions.
“These are allegations, and the Committee has reached no conclusion on them. All parties will be given a full and fair opportunity to be heard,” he said.
He added that the committee would not ignore complaints touching on the integrity of the downstream petroleum sector and promised to keep Nigerians informed of the outcomes.
Neither NIPCO Plc nor Dagazau had publicly responded to the petitions at the time of the briefing.
The probes formed part of the committee’s wider review of the downstream sector. During the same event, lawmakers passed votes of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, the NMDPRA leadership and Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
They noted progress in domestic refining, with refineries increasing their contribution to national petrol supply by more than 75 per cent, no supply shortfalls recorded, and more than 25 days of national sufficiency maintained.
The committee also highlighted the commissioning of the Port Harcourt Petroleum Product Laboratory, the licensing of a petroleum liquid trading exchange, and plans for a national strategic stock of up to 20 days (to be raised to 90 days in 2027).
Despite these gains, Ugochinyere identified pipeline security, reliable crude supply to domestic refineries and a properly regulated import market as areas needing sustained attention.
He urged the Federal Government to increase funding for pipeline surveillance contracts and enforce the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation so local refineries can access feedstock.
“There is no supply security without pipeline security,” he said, adding that importation should only supplement verified shortfalls rather than permanently replace domestic production.
The committee also disclosed inquiries into alleged underpayment for crude oil by some companies and questions directed at NNPCL over legacy transactions and refinery rehabilitation.“We will not accept silence as an answer,” Ugochinyere warned.
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