By Oluwakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives on Tuesday named a seven-member panel to scrutinise how electricity generation companies (Gencos) have used gas supplied to them over the years.
The new sub-committee, chaired by Rep. Afam Victor Ogene, includes Reps. Kafilat Ogbara, Salisu Magaji, Faud Kayode Laguda, Harrison Nwadike and others.
This fresh mandate emerged after concerns were raised during an oversight visit to the Sapele Power Plant in Delta State, where lawmakers discovered that the facility has received gas for months despite producing no electricity.
Harrison Nwadike, who tabled the motion that triggered the audit, questioned the rationale behind the continued gas supply to what he described as a non-performing plant.
Committee Chairman, Al-Mustapha Aliyu, added that many Nigerians suspect that gas supplies to Gencos are insufficient or improperly managed, accusing Seplat Energy of contributing to the problem.
But Seplat’s Managing Director, Ibiada Itoto, refuted the allegations, maintaining that the company is committed to strengthening the power sector.
She noted that Seplat’s role has consistently supported the government’s reform agenda.
The company’s General Manager, Gas, Olubukola Fasoyin, disclosed that Sapele Power Plant is indebted to Seplat to the tune of ₦20 billion for gas already supplied.
However, Nwadike insisted that the situation suggests possible economic wrongdoing, alleging that gas meant for power production may have been diverted over the past year.
Reacting, Aliyu criticised Seplat for allegedly lacking internal checks to detect irregularities in the use of gas supplied to plants.
