The House of Representatives has urged the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, and the National Security Adviser Major-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd) to immediately stop the licensing of sales of explosive devices to oil servicing companies in the country.
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This is aimed at checking the problem of insecurity in the country.
Chairman of the House Committee on Mines and Steel Development, Micheal Enyong Okon, stated this during an investigative hearing, probing the licensing and sale of explosive devices by chief executives of some oil servicing companies in Nigeria.
He directed the Clerk to convey the ruling of the Committee on the matter to the relevant agencies in correspondence.
He said that the committee hearing is on general compliance of the companies to the permits, licensing and sale of explosive devices to end-users in compliance with the Explosives Act 2013 enacted by the apex parliament the National Assembly.
He said there is a need for individuals and corporate entities to comply with the provisions of the law on explosive usage
The lawmaker and other committee members after taking the memorandum submitted by AOS Orwell limited, Halliburton Limited and Enver Nigeria Limited said that that they are flouting the companies’ permits on their sale of explosives.
Basically, the Act provides that anyone or company working or dealing with explosives should get a licence or permit issued by the Ministry in charge of natural resources in the country.
Some of these companies’ chief executive officers who appeared before the Committee however said that they complied with the provisions of the law on the sale and usage of explosives.
The Managing Director of AOS Orwell Mr Femi Omotosho had told the lawmakers that his company is careful in handling explosives.
He also said that the major operations of the company are onshore and submitted the list of end-users of the explosives to the committee.
Companies who failed to turn up for the investigation by the Committee include Baker Hughes Ltd, Drilling Technologies Ltd, Geoplex Drilling Limited, Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd and Slarabare Oil Ltd.
The Chairman said the Secretariat will write to them to appear unfailingly within one week after which they would be summoned to appear.
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