The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the $35 million modular petroleum refinery project in Brass, Bayelsa State.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Billy Osawaru from Edo State during Wednesday’s plenary.

Titled “Motion of Urgent Public Importance on the Need to Investigate the Abandoned $35 Million Modular Refinery Project in Brass, Bayelsa State, Four Years After a Huge Financial Commitment,” the motion seeks to uncover reasons behind the project’s stagnation.

The 2,000-barrel-per-day refinery is a joint initiative between Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.

The modular refinery was conceived to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production, strengthen local refining capacity, promote indigenous participation in content development, and generate employment in the petroleum sector.

However, despite plans for construction to begin in 2021, reports indicate that the project is now under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged fraudulent activities.

In 2020, the NCDMB invested $35m in the project, but according to Osawaru, “Despite this huge investment, which is more than N50bn and enough to fund fundamental components of the national budget, the proposed modular refinery that was to be known as Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited was never set up.

“Nothing is on the ground to show that huge financial commitments had been made.”

Osawaru, who represents the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State, recalled that the House had previously taken steps to uncover the cause of the project’s failure by directing the relevant committee to investigate what he described as a case of monumental economic sabotage.

He lamented that despite these efforts, “nothing has been heard regarding the matter.”

He added, “In May 2024, a stakeholder submitted a petition to the EFCC urging the anti-graft organisation to probe the multi-million-dollar investments made by the NCDMB, among which was the Atlantic Refinery project.

“Despite this noble move by the said stakeholder, nothing has been heard about this profound national waste from almost a year ago.

“We are worried that the continued inactivity of this Brass modular refinery project raises significant questions about the management of public funds and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in Nigeria.”

When the motion was put to a voice vote by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over Wednesday’s plenary, it received overwhelming support from the lawmakers.