- The NC-DOGI Bill could duplicate petroleum regulators and waste limited public funds.
- Activists demand stronger existing agencies for managing the decommissioning of oil and gas.
Energy activists are speaking out against the proposed National Commission for the Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Installations (NC-DOGI) Bill, 2024. Opposition to the plan is growing fast. Many campaigners fear it will duplicate existing agencies and waste scarce public funds. They believe Nigeria should strengthen current regulators overseeing the decommissioning of oil and gas installations instead of creating new ones.
In Abuja, hundreds of protesters joined the Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria (ERAN) in a peaceful demonstration. The group’s Executive Director, Comrade Abba Henry, called the bill “unnecessary” and “a dagger aimed at the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).” He said Nigeria’s weak economy cannot support another costly bureaucracy. Two capable regulators, the NUPRC and the NMDPRA, already manage these responsibilities.
Henry warned that another commission would create confusion and overlap. He explained that investors tend to avoid countries where excessive regulation slows down decisions and increases risks. Therefore, he urged lawmakers to improve efficiency within existing structures rather than expand them.
Turning to economic matters, Henry noted that Nigeria’s growing debt requires caution, not expansion. He said public money should focus on reform, not duplication. Institutions already responsible for the decommissioning of oil and gas installations require better funding and oversight.
Activists also warned that the NC-DOGI Bill could weaken the Petroleum Industry Act. That law took twenty years to develop through broad consultation. They believe progress depends on accountability and coordination, not more bureaucracy.
As pressure mounts, campaigners are urging the National Assembly to withdraw the bill. They argue that strengthening current agencies is the best path to protect national resources, attract investors, and deliver real energy reform.