By Tayo Alabi
The House of Representatives committee on Petroleum Resources upstream says it would look into the challenges bedevilling the successful operations and development of National Engineering and Technical Company NETCO.
This was the resolution of the committee when it visited the Headquarters of NETCO in Lagos for familiarisation.
The committee chairman Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar said they were at NETCO as part of the mandate of the committee to oversight such agencies.
He explained that the visit would enable the committee understand the activities and challenges of the company with a view to addressing them.
The committee however expressed disappointment over the inability of the management of NETCO to provide some important documents requested by members of the committee among which are the financial statements and documents relevant to the training of personnel among others.
The committee thereafter, directed the management of the Agency to provide all relevant documents to enable it carry out its assignment effectively.
While addressing the committee, the Managing Director Engr. Usman Baba said NETCO does not receive budgetary allocations from the Federal Government, noting that it makes remittances directly to NNPC.
He said some of the major challenges affecting the smooth running of the Agency is the TSA and NSITF, he therefore requested the support of the committee to overcome the challenges.
He added that the Agency will continue to collaborate with the committee to enable it succeed.
Similarly, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Upstream also paid a Familiarisation Visit to the Headquarters of Integrated Data Services Ltd IDSL, a subsidiary of NNPC in Benin, the Edo State Capital.
Speaking at the meeting, the Managing Director of IDSL Mr Ayebateke Bariwei, explained that the IDSL data management process involves data acquisition, data processing, storage and management, stating that its application could be in the upstream, midstream or downstream sectors of the industry.
He stressed that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuating oil price and high operating cost had led to potential losers and winners, noting that depending on decisions taken to ameliorate the impact, the oil and gas industry.
In his remarks, the chairman of the committee, Hon Musa Sarkin Adar expressed satisfaction with the agency and assured that the committee would continue to support the efforts of the agency in providing efficient data for the growth of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
Members of the committee also participated in the interactions where relevant questions concerning the activities of IDSL was raised.
The committee ended it’s visit with a promise to return for a comprehensive oversight where relevant documents are expected to be presented that would guide the committee.
