The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to strengthen the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) so as to adequately monitor the nation’s upstream joint ventures with international oil companies, The Guardian reports.

The lawmakers gave the advice at the plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Sulaimon Lasun, when they adopted the report of the Victor Nwokolo- led joint committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and Public Procurement that probed into a $260 million contract awarded by NAPIMS.

According to them, NAPIMS needs to be strengthened for strict monitoring of the activities of joint venture partners in order to protect the nation’s interests.The lawmakers further urged the NNPC and its joint venture partners to always adhere to due process in their transactions to eliminate prolonged disputes that may negatively impact on investments.

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