The House of Representatives has opened a comprehensive investigation into the alleged mismanagement of funds allocated for oil spill clean-up projects in the Niger Delta, amid persistent environmental degradation and worsening living conditions in affected communities.
The probe, initiated on Friday, follows public outcry that despite billions of naira reportedly spent over the years, oil-producing areas continue to suffer polluted farmlands, contaminated water sources, and loss of livelihoods.
Speaking at the inauguration of the ad hoc committee overseeing the investigation, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, who chairs the committee, said the exercise represents a major step towards ensuring transparency, accountability, and environmental justice.
“The Niger Delta has endured years of pollution and neglect due to oil exploration. Despite multiple government interventions, communities remain in despair because funds for clean-up projects have not produced tangible results,” Etteh said.
“Our task is to uncover why the huge resources allocated for remediation have failed to restore the environment or improve the lives of residents.”
Etteh explained that the committee’s mandate covers a thorough review of all funds disbursed for environmental restoration, assessment of agency performance, and the identification of lapses or corruption that have undermined previous clean-up initiatives.
He added that the committee would engage all relevant stakeholders — including government agencies, host communities, environmental experts, and civil society organisations — and conduct on-the-ground inspections to verify the true state of clean-up projects.
“This investigation will be guided by fairness, transparency, and evidence,” he said. “We owe it to the people of the Niger Delta to ensure justice and accountability.”
Speaker tasks committee on accountability
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the Chief Whip, Hon. Usman Kumo, urged the committee to assess both the competence and integrity of those managing clean-up funds.
“This investigation must uncover the causes of the lapses in fund management and ensure accountability across all agencies involved,” he said.
“The goal is not just to expose wrongdoing but to create a framework for effective and sustainable environmental remediation.”
Tajudeen expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to carry out its work diligently and deliver recommendations that could help restore public trust and revive the ecology of the Niger Delta.
He reaffirmed the House’s commitment to addressing long-standing environmental injustices in oil-producing communities and ensuring that public funds achieve measurable impact.
“The Niger Delta deserves more than promises,” he added. “This investigation is a step toward ensuring that government interventions deliver real, lasting change.”
