House Of Reps Grills Nigerian Ministers Over Alleged Misuse Of $2billion Energy Fund

The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy is set to hold a high-stakes investigative hearing, summoning key ministers over the alleged mismanagement of over $2 billion in funds intended for renewable energy development.

The hearing, which started on Tuesday and will continue till Wednesday, will focus on the utilisation of substantial investments and grants allocated to advance Nigeria’s renewable energy sector since 2015.

Ministers expected to face the committee include; Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security; Uche Nnaji, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation; and Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning.

Led by Afam Ogene, representative of Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State, the committee aims to scrutinise the effectiveness and transparency of fund allocation within the ministries, along with other government agencies involved in the renewable energy push.

The inquiry, first mandated by the House on June 6, 2024, follows concerns about worsening power supply despite the sizable financial support.

Lawmakers have expressed frustration over the disparity between investment levels and visible improvements, raising questions about possible mismanagement or misallocation of resources.

“The funds and grants allocated to develop renewable energy should translate into enhanced energy access for all Nigerians,” Ogene noted last week.

“Yet we continue to see little progress, with many regions still facing chronic power shortages.”

At the start of the investigative hearing on Tuesday, none of the ministers attended in person, instead sending representatives who were largely dismissed and asked to return to their offices.

Expressing disappointment over the low turnout, Committee Chairman Ogene insisted that the ministers and other key government officials must attend the hearing in person on Wednesday.

The Labour Party lawmaker had reminded the representatives that the National Assembly holds the constitutional authority to summon public officials for investigation.
“Section 81 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria grants each House of the National Assembly the power to investigate matters on which it can legislate, as published in the official Gazette,” he stated.

He emphasised that this authority extends to examining “the conduct of any person, authority, ministry, or department responsible for administering funds allocated by the National Assembly.”

At the hearing, Ogene called on the Budget and Economic Planning Ministry to make its presentation, but only a director, Felix Okonkwo, appeared on behalf of the minister.
When asked if he had the minister’s mandate to represent him, Okonkwo responded, “I can assume some responsibilities but not all.”
Dissatisfied, Ogene instructed Okonkwo to inform the minister to attend in person on Wednesday.
“Tell your minister to appear before this committee on Wednesday. This is not a witch-hunt, but it is unacceptable that MDA heads ignore invitations repeatedly,” he said.
However, when the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Suleiman Abubakar, stood in for his minister, he acknowledged he was sent by his directorate.
Ogene responded firmly, “You have no authority to stand in for the Minister. We wrote directly to the Minister.”

The Committee expects the following officials to attend Wednesday’s hearing: the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo; representatives from the Office of the Accountant General; Union Bank of Nigeria; and Niger Delta Power Holding Company.