A member of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Allwell Onyesoh, has criticised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for repeatedly failing to appear before lawmakers investigating crude oil theft.

Speaking after a Senate committee meeting on Friday, the Rivers East senator said the company’s absence was hindering the National Assembly’s constitutional duty to oversee the oil sector and investigate issues affecting crude oil production.

Onyesoh, who staged a walkout during the meeting, said lawmakers were only seeking documents and explanations from the state-owned oil company as part of their oversight responsibilities. He stressed that the Senate was committed to promoting transparency and accountability in the sector.

The senator also questioned the NNPCL’s repeated explanation that its top officials were unavailable because of official trips abroad, arguing that such reasons should not prevent the company’s leadership from appearing before the National Assembly.

He maintained that no government agency is above legislative oversight and disclosed that he would raise the matter with the Senate leadership.

Onyesoh further expressed concern over the lack of development in many oil-producing communities despite their contribution to Nigeria’s economy. He called for greater access to employment, training and other opportunities for residents of host communities and urged the Petroleum Technology Development Fund to publish records of scholarship beneficiaries from oil-producing states.

The committee also continued deliberations on proposed amendments to Nigeria’s petroleum laws aimed at strengthening regulatory enforcement, tackling crude oil theft and improving crude oil production.