Lawmakers Begin Deliberations On Proposed NC-DOGI Commission

The House of Representatives has begun deliberations on a proposal to establish a National Commission for Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Installations (NC-DOGI), a body that would oversee the dismantling and clean-up of disused oil facilities across the country.

At a public hearing in Abuja, Committee Chairman Alhassan Ado Doguwa said the bill reflects Parliament’s commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility and the welfare of oil-producing communities.

He told participants that the engagement was designed to gather broad stakeholder input, not to pre-judge the outcome of the proposed legislation.

“The objective is to listen, evaluate, and ensure whatever framework emerges best serves national interests,” Doguwa said.

The committee acknowledged that Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) already assigns decommissioning responsibilities to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

However, lawmakers said persistent environmental and community challenges have prompted fresh calls for a dedicated agency.

Stakeholders from the oil and gas industry, the environment ministry, and civil society groups attended the session to present their views.

The Committee is expected to review the submissions before presenting a report to the House.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji