The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to launch an investigation into the status of the $35 million modular refinery project in Brass, Bayelsa State.
This decision came after Hon. Billy Osawaru from Edo State raised a motion of urgent public importance during the plenary session. The motion, titled “Need to Investigate the Abandoned $35m Modular Refinery Project in Brass, Bayelsa State, Four Years After Major Financial Commitments,” called attention to the apparent lack of progress on the project despite a substantial investment.
The refinery, with a proposed capacity of 2,000 barrels per day, is being developed by Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). It was designed to increase crude oil refining capacity, support local participation in the oil sector, and create jobs.
Although construction was slated to begin in 2021, reports suggest that the project is now under scrutiny by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of financial misconduct.
According to Osawaru, the NCDMB invested $35 million in the initiative back in 2020. “Despite this massive investment—amounting to over ₦50 billion and capable of funding key national projects—there’s nothing on ground to indicate that any tangible work has been done on the refinery,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of the issue, Osawaru, who represents Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, reminded the House that a prior effort had been made to uncover the circumstances surrounding the stalled project. He lamented that no updates have emerged since then.
He further noted that in May 2024, a concerned stakeholder submitted a petition to the EFCC, urging the agency to investigate the NCDMB’s multi-million-dollar investments, including this particular refinery. However, almost a year later, no concrete action or findings have been made public.
“We are deeply concerned that the continued dormancy of the Brass modular refinery raises serious concerns about transparency in public fund management and the adequacy of existing oversight structures,” Osawaru added.
Following a voice vote, the motion received broad support from lawmakers. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the matter to the House Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) for further legislative review.
The committees are expected to present their findings within four weeks.
