By Ayomide Otitoju
Property owners affected by the demolition exercise carried out by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in 2018 are demanding compensation exceeding ₦160 billion. The demolitions, which took place along the pipeline and Tanke Road in Ilorin, were conducted by Nigerian Army engineers on the orders of the national oil company to clear the right of way.
According to Tope Ajetumobi, who spoke on behalf of the victims, a total of 976 structures were destroyed during the operation. Ajetumobi revealed that the House of Representatives Public Petitions Committee had passed a resolution in 2019, urging the NNPCL to assess the value of the damaged properties and negotiate compensation with the affected individuals. However, the NNPCL has reportedly declined to comply with the directive.
“The House of Representatives passed a resolution on May 30, 2019, that NNPC should assess the value of the properties so damaged and negotiate with the victims. But NNPC both declined and ignored this,” Ajetumobi stated.
He further explained that the issue was brought before the then-Speaker of the 9th Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila, but efforts by the House Committee on Legislative Compliance were allegedly thwarted by the NNPCL. Out of 17 invitations extended to the NNPCL, only three were honored, including a forced inspection that took place on January 24, 2023.
The matter was revived in the 10th Assembly under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who summoned the NNPCL to appear before the Public Petitions Committee. However, the NNPCL reportedly failed to attend the hearings.
The affected property owners are now calling on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and ensure they receive the compensation sum of ₦160.75 billion.
