By KBL Media The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to pay ₦32.15 bil...
By KBL Media
The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to pay ₦32.15 billion as compensation to 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ilorin, Kwara State, over alleged unlawful demolition, displacement, and land acquisition.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Kwamoti Bitrus La’ori, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja. He explained that the resolution of the 10th House reaffirms and adopts an earlier recommendation made by the 8th Assembly on the same matter.
According to the report presented by La’ori, the House approved a petition filed by Ajets Surveys on behalf of the affected residents against NNPCL concerning land acquisition, demolition, and forced eviction. The affected areas include Judges’ Quarters, F Division, Tanke Tipper Garage, Pipeline, Babaode, and Oshin in Ilorin.
The House directed NNPCL to effect the payment within 60 days.
In a related development, the House also adopted the Committee’s report on a petition against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (now Seplat Energy) and ordered the company to pay ₦72.624 billion as compensation to victims in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State for environmental damage caused by oil spills linked to its operations.
The House stated that the compensation should be paid in instalments, as may be mutually agreed by the affected parties. The Committee’s findings were based on valuation reports by Messrs Soni Udoma and Partners, Ebito and Company, and Uduak Jeremiah Consult, which confirmed multiple oil spills between 2003 and 2012.
Similarly, the House upheld the Committee’s recommendation on a petition filed by Award Winning Consult Limited on behalf of Mr. Asedere Othuke Edwin against British Oil and Gas Exploration Production Company over alleged unlawful termination of employment. The company was ordered to pay ₦100 million as compensation and damages without further delay.
In another resolution, the House adopted the report on a petition by Tepng/Aks Main Community (MUO) on behalf of the paramount rulers, youths, and women of Ikot Abasi, Ibeno, and Mbo Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State against TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for their exclusion from the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The House directed TotalEnergies and NUPRC to immediately include the affected communities as beneficiaries of the existing HCDT and to pay accrued compensation covering 2022 to 2025, representing the period of exclusion.
The House also adopted the Committee’s recommendation on the petition by Mr. Dogo Isaac Imooje against the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for wrongful dismissal. It directed the NIS and the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) to pay all outstanding salaries, entitlements, and arrears owed to the petitioner from February 2013 to September 2018.
Speaking on the series of resolutions, Hon. La’ori reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to fairness, justice, and timely consideration of all petitions referred to it. He stressed that the House remains a platform where the grievances of ordinary citizens can be addressed.
“The Committee will continue to uphold fairness, transparency, and accountability in addressing the concerns of Nigerians. Every citizen deserves justice, and this House remains committed to ensuring that justice is neither delayed nor denied,” La’ori said.
He commended the leadership of the 10th House of Representatives under Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, GCON, for providing strong, people-centered legislative direction, describing it as “a true People’s Parliament” that gives voice to the marginalized and holds institutions accountable.
“The 10th House has shown through its actions that it stands with the people — defending their rights, protecting their interests, and ensuring that justice prevails,” La’ori added.
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