The Senate ad hoc committee, established to investigate allegations of economic sabotage in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, has indefinitely postponed its public hearing, initially scheduled for September 10 to 12.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the committee’s chair, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
The 15-member committee, inaugurated on July 22, 2024, is tasked with uncovering entities and practices that have negatively affected the petroleum sector over the past decade.
One of its main objectives is to investigate the billions of dollars reportedly spent on the turnaround maintenance of refineries, a long-standing issue that has hampered industry efficiency.
Senator Bamidele cited “legislative exigencies” and the need for “more thorough consultations” as reasons for the delay, emphasizing that the hearing will be rescheduled. He assured stakeholders that they would be informed of the new date in due time.
The postponement, according to Senator Bamidele, was made in the “national interest,” and he apologized for any inconvenience caused.