Business and Economy
Energy Advocates Oppose Bill Seeking Commission for Decommissioning Oil, Gas Installations frown against Proliferation of Agencies
Hundreds of placard-carrying protesters took to the streets of Abuja on Saturday as the Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria (ERAN) vehemently opposed the proposed National Commission for the Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Installations (NC-DOGI) Bill, 2024.
At a press conference, the Executive Director of ERAN, Comrade Abba Henry, described the bill as “another feeding bottle for the boys” and “a poisoned dagger aimed at the heart of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).”
“Nigeria is broke. Our debt is choking us. Yet some senators want to create a new commission that will gulp billions just to monitor old pipelines,” Abba said.
He argued that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) already have the mandate, capacity, and resources to handle decommissioning operations across the oil and gas value chain.
“They have the staff, the laws, the labs, and the muscle to decommission any platform from Bonny to Forcados. Why create a third referee when the field already has two?” he asked.
ERAN warned that establishing NC-DOGI would only fuel confusion, drive away investors, and open new channels for corruption.
“One agency will approve the plan, another will supervise the cutting, and the third will fight over who collects the contractor’s kickback. Investors hate chaos—they’ll simply move their dollars to Ghana,” Abba stated.
He reminded journalists that the PIA, which took two decades to pass and was signed only four years ago, is still being implemented.
“The ink is still wet. Don’t tear the book to add a new chapter nobody asked for,” he cautioned.
Unveiling their five-word slogan—‘KILL THIS BILL’—the activists vowed to mount sustained pressure on lawmakers through petitions, nationwide town halls, and legal action if necessary.
“Nigerians are awake. We will name and shame every senator who votes for this money-guzzler. History will record their greed,” Abba declared.
Addressing the leadership of the National Assembly directly, he issued a stern warning: “Do not keep it alive. Do not smuggle it. Do not rename it. Bury it today so Nigeria can breathe tomorrow.”