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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has given a 72-hour ultimatum to the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to appear before it over outstanding debts estimated at more than N100 billion owed to the Federation Account or face sanctions for legislative contempt.

Chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Rep. Bamidele Salam, issued the directive during a public hearing on Monday in Abuja, after noting that the affected Discos had failed to honour several previous invitations.

The resolution followed consideration of an interim report presented by the chairman of the subcommittee, Rep. Mark Chidi Obetta.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that on August 20, 2025, the PAC summoned 11 electricity distribution companies over a cumulative debt of N2.6 trillion owed to the Federation Account.

But the management of IBEDC, BEDC, and PHEDC have consistently failed to appear before the committee to account for their outstanding liabilities, as detailed in the Auditor-General’s reports for the 2021 and 2022 financial years.

The committee expressed displeasure over what it described as deliberate acts of legislative contempt by the three Discos and warned that stiff sanctions would be imposed should they fail to appear before the committee on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

Speaking at the hearing, the Committee Chairman expressed deep concern over the long-standing nature of the debts, noting that some of the liabilities have remained unpaid for over a decade.

He emphasised the need for urgent and decisive action to recover the funds and ensure they are properly accounted for in the interest of the Nigerian government and the public.

The committee subsequently reiterated its directive, giving the management of the affected Discos until Thursday 18th December, 2025 to appear and provide explanations for the outstanding payments.

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources covering the downstream and midstream segments has intervened to defuse fresh tensions in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

The intervention followed rising public concerns, allegations and counter-allegations involving the Dangote Refinery Group and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The committee summoned both sides to appear before it to present their grievances and ordered an immediate halt to media exchanges until its inquiry is concluded. Lawmakers said the investigation would be fast-tracked and resolved within days.

The joint committees, chaired by Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Rep. Henry Okogie, disclosed the decision after an emergency meeting convened in response to what they described as mounting tensions that could threaten the fragile stability recently restored in the sector. They noted that concerns had been raised by several stakeholders across the industry.

The lawmakers explained that the swift action was necessary to prevent the situation from escalating further, particularly at a time when both government and industry players are working to stabilise fuel supply, pricing and regulatory oversight in the post-subsidy environment.

Ugochinyere said: “The key issue that necessitated this emergency meeting was the growing tension that has returned to the downstream sector as a result of concerns and allegations raised by Alhaji Aliko Dangote against the NMDPRA.

“This is coming at a time when the committee is jealously guarding the stability that has been achieved in the sector.”

He said the committee resolved to formally invite both the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the leadership of the NMDPRA to appear before it and provide detailed explanations on the issues fueling the dispute so that the committees can come out with the needed decisions and resolutions that will resolve the matter.

The lawmaker explained that only a clear understanding of the underlying problems will enable the National Assembly broker lasting solutions without fear or favour.

“We can only find sustainable solutions when we identify the critical issues leading to this tension. That is why the committee resolved to write to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the NMDPRA chief to meet with us and give insights into what is driving these allegations and counter-allegations,” he added.

In a firm move to calm the situation, the committee also appealed to both parties to halt public exchanges and media comments while legislative intervention is ongoing.

“We resolved to plead with the contending parties to cease fire, especially media comments, so that the situation does not escalate furthe.

“The committee has the capacity to wade into this matter and find solutions once and for allr,” Ugochinyere noted.

He revealed that the committee has already received petitions touching on critical industry concerns, including the issuance of import licences and questions around whether domestic refineries have the capacity to meet Nigeria’s daily petroleum needs.

“These are serious issues. Some relate to import licences, others to whether local refineries can produce enough to satisfy national demand which the investigation been undertaken by the committee will resolve” he said.

Ugochinyere emphasised that all outstanding matters will be thoroughly examined when key stakeholders in the refining and regulatory space appear before the committee.

“By the time Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the NMDPRA and other stakeholders meet with the committee, we will get the real gist of what is happening and come up with resolutions that provide sustainable solutions for the sector.

“We are pleading with them to cease further attacks on each other,whether from the regulatory agency or the refining community,while the committee sorts out these issues,” ,” he assured.

According to him, the decisions reflected the outcome of the committee’s closed-door deliberations.

The intervention comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry, particularly as expectations remain high around local refining capacity, regulatory clarity and stable fuel supply.

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The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has directed the suspension of all actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml pet bottles products, pending the conclusion of consultations and the issuance of a final directive.

In a statement issued on Monday, by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the OSGF disclosed that it received an official correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, dated November 13, 2025. The letter, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, addressed concerns surrounding the proposed enforcement of the ban by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

According to the OSGF, the correspondence highlights existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the matter and is currently under review in line with the office’s statutory coordinating role as Chairman of the Cabinet Secretariat.

“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the proposed sachet alcohol ban are to be suspended pending the conclusion of consultations and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement said.

The OSGF further clarified that any enforcement action taken by NAFDAC or any other agency without due clearance and resolution by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation would be considered invalid and should be disregarded by the public until an official decision is communicated.

The office assured Nigerians that it is carefully examining all relevant factors, including legislative resolutions, economic implications, public health concerns, and the broader national interest, to ensure a balanced, lawful, and well-coordinated outcome.

The OSGF added that the public would be duly informed once a final position on the matter has been reached.