The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources Downstream and Upstream to investigate the alleged fraudulent award of pipeline surveillance contracts in the country and report back in two weeks.

The motion which was passed without a debate was moved by Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor (PDP-Delta).

The motion drew the attention of the house to the need to probe the allegations that Tezino Nig. Ltd which was awarded a contract by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) costing millions of naira, has not been providing surveillance for OML 26/30 which it was engaged.

He alleged that the contract has enabled the contractor to whisk away funds meant for the betterment of the citizens.

“Millions of naira of tax payers’ money is being siphoned for work not done through this contract,’’ he said.

Ogor further alleged that the contracted company may have acted in connivance with some officials of the NPDC noting that the host communities have expressed dismay over the part played by the NNPC subsidiary, adding that they need to involve local vigilante to watch over them.

Meanwhile, the House has summoned the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) to appear before its committees on privatisation and commercialisation and legislative compliance.

The motion, moved by Ibrahim Gusau (PDP-Sokoto) was also adopted unanimously by the lawmakers without debate.

“In spite of the communication of the resolution of the house to the NCP and BPE, they went ahead with the process of liquidation of the companies,” Mr. Gusau added.

The House recently considered and adopted 13 recommendations on the liquidation of the companies and urged the agencies to discontinue the process of liquidation.