Residents of Ilorin, whose properties were demolished in 2018 by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), are demanding compensation of over ₦160 billion.
The affected structures, located along Pipeline and Tanke roads, were cleared as part of an operation to create a right of way for the national oil company’s infrastructure.
The demolition, which reportedly involved the destruction of 976 structures, was executed by the Nigerian Army engineers on the orders of NNPCL.
The affected residents have since sought compensation, but they claim their pleas have largely been ignored by the authorities.
Leading the charge for compensation is Tope Ajetunmobi, who has been vocal in representing the victims.
According to Ajetunmobi, the House of Representatives’ Public Petitions Committee had passed a resolution in 2019, mandating NNPCL to assess the value of the damaged properties and engage in negotiations with the victims.
However, despite this directive, NNPCL has allegedly failed to take any meaningful action.
“The House of Representatives passed a resolution on the 30th of May, 2019, that NNPC should assess the value of the properties so damaged and negotiate with the victims. But NNPC both declined and ignored this,” Ajetunmobi explained.
Ajetunmobi further elaborated that the issue was brought before the 9th Assembly, under the leadership of then-Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
The House Committee on Legislative Compliance, tasked with ensuring that the resolution was followed through, reportedly encountered resistance from NNPCL.
Out of 17 invitations extended to the company by the committee, NNPCL allegedly honored only three.
Even a forceful inspection of the affected sites on January 24, 2023, did not lead to any substantial progress.
In 2023, as the 10th Assembly convened under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the matter was once again brought to the forefront.
However, the victims claim that NNPCL has continued its pattern of evasion by refusing to show up at hearings before the Public Petitions Committee.
The victims are now turning to President Bola Tinubu, seeking his intervention to ensure that they receive the compensation they believe they are owed.
They argue that the ₦160.75 billion they are demanding is a fair estimate of the losses they incurred due to the demolition.
The conflict between the Ilorin residents and NNPCL is part of a broader narrative in Nigeria, where infrastructure development projects often clash with the rights of local communities.
The need for pipelines and other oil-related infrastructure is frequently justified as being in the national interest, yet these projects can have devastating consequences for those who find their homes and businesses in the path of development.
In this case, the residents of Ilorin have had to endure the loss of their properties without any immediate remedy.
The slow pace of justice and the perceived lack of accountability on the part of NNPCL have only deepened their frustration.
The House of Representatives’ role in this saga has been significant, yet ultimately frustrating for the victims.
The Public Petitions Committee, tasked with addressing citizens’ grievances, took steps to resolve the issue, but the lack of cooperation from NNPCL has stymied their efforts.
The Committee on Legislative Compliance, which ensures that resolutions are implemented, faced similar obstacles.
Despite their attempts to hold NNPCL accountable, the oil giant’s alleged unwillingness to participate fully in the process has left the affected residents in a state of limbo.
This issue also raises questions about the broader accountability of state-owned enterprises in Nigeria.
As a major player in the country’s oil sector, NNPCL wields considerable power, but its actions in this case have been criticized for lacking transparency and responsibility towards affected citizens.
