Rivers Assembly Knocks NNPCL Over Snub

The Rivers State House of Assembly has expressed displeasure over the repeated failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to appear before its Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions to answer a petition bordering on an alleged crude oil spill and its impact on communities in Degema Local Government Area.

The concern was raised on Tuesday during the third legislative sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly when the House received three reports from its Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions.

Presenting the reports, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Enemi George, described NNPCL’s persistent non-appearance before the committee as unacceptable, stressing that the committee was established to provide citizens and communities with a platform to seek redress after exhausting other available channels.

George said the committee viewed the company’s failure to acknowledge invitations or appear before lawmakers despite being duly served with hearing notices as a clear disregard for the constitutional oversight powers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

According to the report, the petition was filed on November 14, 2025, by Opunabo Ekine & Associates on behalf of the Port Harcourt Blooming White Roses Farmers Cooperative Investment and Credit Society Limited and Map-Willy Concepts over a fire outbreak and crude oil spill allegedly caused by the operations of NNPCL 18 Operating Limited at OML Well 10, Cawthorne Channel 1.

The petitioners alleged that the February 19, 2025 incident affected several shoreline communities in Degema Local Government Area, including Abiye Alakiri, Amatemeso Ama, Abbey Amaso, Egbetiama, Tamuno Ama, Omodara Ama and College Ama.

While presenting the other reports, George informed the House that the committee had successfully resolved the dispute arising from the oil spill on the 24-inch Ogale–Bonny Pipeline involving Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited through peaceful mediation.

He also disclosed that the committee brokered peace in the petition filed by Mr. Bright and 15 others against Zest Optimal Global Services Limited over the alleged non-payment of contract entitlements.

Ruling on the reports, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, who presided over the sitting, deferred debate on all three committee reports to another legislative day.