The House of Representatives Committee on Environment has summoned NNPC Eighteen Operating limited to appear before it on March 4, following the company’s absence at a previous hearing on February 18.

Committee Chairman, Rep. Julius Pondi, made the announcement in Abuja , explaining that the summon was prompted by complaints from stakeholders about environmental damage and pollution linked to oil drilling in Buguma and Degema areas of Rivers State.

The committee had earlier received reports of a fire and oil spill incidents in Buguma, located in the Degema Local Government Area, allegedly involving NNPC Eighteen Operating Ltd.

Additionally, the lawmakers called on relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to discuss issues raised by the Buguma community in Rivers State.

The community claimed that NNPC failed to comply with a 2021 court ruling that required the grouping of oil-producing communities into clusters to promote development.