The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating power sector reforms and expenditure between 2006 and 2024 has constituted a seven-man sub-committee to conduct a forensic audit of gas supplied to power plants across the country.
Afam Victor Ogene will serve as Chairman, while Kafilat Ogbara, Salisu Magaji, Fuad Kayode Laguda, Harrison Nwadike, among others are members.
The committee said the development was necessary in order to determine how the resource has been utilised for electricity generation.
The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Representative Harrison Nwadike, who raised concerns over the continued supply of gas to the Sapele Power Plant in Delta State despite the facility reportedly failing to generate electricity for over one year.
He disclosed that the discovery was made during the committee’s recent oversight visit to the plant, noting that the situation raised serious questions about accountability in the power sector.
He added :“We were shocked to discover that gas has been supplied to Sapele Power Plant consistently, yet the plant has not generated power for over a year.
“This raises fundamental questions about where the gas is going and whether it is being utilised for the purpose for which it was supplied.”
According to him, continuing supply gas to a non-functional plant amounted to a major oversight failure that must be investigated.
“If gas is being supplied and power is not being generated, then somebody must explain what is happening. This committee cannot overlook such a situation,” he stated.
The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Representative Al-Mustapha Aliyu, lamented that there had been widespread public concerns that gas producers were not supplying adequate gas to Gencos, which had worsened Nigeria’s electricity crisis.
He said:“Nigerians are worried that power plants are being strangulated due to alleged inadequate gas supply, and this has continued to affect electricity generation nationwide,” Aliyu said. “That is why this committee is determined to get to the root of the matter.”
But the Managing Director of Seplat Energy Company, Mrs. Ibiada Itoto, dismissed claims that the company was undermining the power sector, insisting that Seplat had remained committed to the Federal Government’s power sector reform agenda.
He said:“Seplat Energy has always supported the sustainability and growth of Nigeria’s power sector.
“We have no interest in sabotaging power generation; our goal has consistently been to ensure that gas is available to support electricity supply.” She maintained that the company had acted in line with its contractual obligations to power plants.
The General Manager, Gas, Seplat Energy Company, Mr. Olubukola Fasoyin, disclosed that the Sapele Power Plant is currently indebted to the company to the tune of about ₦20 billion for gas supplied.
“As we speak, Sapele Power Plant owes Seplat approximately ₦20 billion for gas already supplied,” Fasoyin told the committee, adding that the debt had affected operations across the value chain.
Nwadike alleged that Seplat could be complicit in an economic crime if it continued to supply gas to a power plant that allegedly diverted gas meant for electricity generation.
“If a company continues to supply gas to a plant that is not generating power, then it raises the question of possible complicity,” Nwadike said. “This could amount to an economic crime against the Nigerian people.”
