S
enator Agom Jarigbe Refutes Allegations, Clarifies LNG Project Controversy
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Agom Jarigbe, has dismissed claims that the removal of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content was influenced by her involvement in the siting of Mini Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plants in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Senator Jarigbe, who represents Cross River North, debunked allegations made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during an interview with Berekete Family, a human rights radio station in Abuja.
> “The claim that her role or involvement in the siting of the LNG plants played a part in her replacement is categorically incorrect,” he asserted.
Claims of Political Targeting
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged that she was removed from the Local Content Committee due to perceived biases, stating that some lawmakers believed she was diverting resources meant for the Niger Delta to northern Nigeria.
> “Just two weeks ago, I was removed from a committee on local content. I was moved from there because some people perceived that I was using that office to divert resources from the Niger Delta to the north, and that was not it,” she claimed.
Her tenure as committee chair was marked by intense scrutiny of government agencies and projects. During the 2025 budget defense sessions, she notably questioned a controversial N2 billion project for youth training in metal works, raising concerns over budget discrepancies and alleged misappropriation of funds. She was also vocal about suspected fraudulent activities within the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, exposing ghost contractors and unimplemented projects.
However, on 4 February, when the Senate resumed plenary for the year, Senate President Godswill Akpabio reassigned her to the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations. Given that the Local Content Committee oversees key oil industry agencies, political observers speculated that her reassignment may have been a reaction to her tough oversight approach.
Senator Jarigbe’s Clarification
Addressing the allegations, Senator Jarigbe clarified that neither Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan nor the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) played any role in deciding the location of the LNG plants.
He explained that the projects—Prime LNG, NGML/Gasnexus LNG, BUA LNG, Highland LNG, and LNG Arete—are private sector-driven initiatives. Their locations, he stressed, were determined based on economic viability, access to gas pipelines, and operational efficiency, not political considerations.
> “As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, I have received numerous inquiries from concerned Nigerians questioning why Ajaokuta was selected as the site for these plants,” he stated.
“Private investors make decisions based on the profitability and sustainability of their investments, not political affiliations or considerations.”
Call for Responsibility Among Lawmakers
Senator Jarigbe also urged his colleagues in the Senate to exercise restraint in their public statements, reminding them that parliamentary immunity applies only within the Senate chambers and does not extend to defamatory remarks made outside.
> “There is no protection or immunity outside the chamber, and we must exercise restraint and circumspection in our speeches and actions,” he cautioned.
He further emphasized the need for decorum and adherence to Senate Standing Orders, urging lawmakers to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the dignity of the legislature.
> “Our behavior and words must reflect the responsibility vested in us by the people of Nigeria. The law does not provide immunity for a senator who defames anyone,” he warned.
With Senator Jarigbe’s clarification, the controversy surrounding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s removal continues to spark debate, raising questions about the politics of committee assignments in the National Assembly.
