NIGERIANS have been urged to prevail on the presidency and other relevant agencies to act on the report of the House of Representatives committee probing the oil subsidy scam.

The Vice Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Alhaji Mashood Mustapha made the plea in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Mustapha, who represents Ilorin West/Ilorin South Federal Constituency, told reporters that the house had resolved to send copies of the recommendations of the probe panel to the relevant agencies for necessary action.

His words: "We have made another resolution to send copies of the recommendations to anti-graft agencies, Senate and the executive to take decision. We want the senate to look at it and take a cue from the lower chamber. We cannot prosecute; we know the limit of our responsibility. The public will know at the end of the day that we have done our best.

"The House gave the ad-hoc committee two weeks to hear the side of the companies that alleged that the committee was one-sided in the investigations.

"However, the ball is in the court of Nigerians to make all the relevant agencies and the presidency to take action.

"There are rules that guide every action we take. If the presidency does not take the necessary action it behooves the people to shout. In the next two three weeks we expect the relevant agencies, the presidency to take the necessary step.

"The indictment will go a long way in scaring away would-be perpetrators of heinous financial crimes. People who did not want the result to see the light of day flew the kite of impeachment. But that can never happen as the House is solidly behind the Speaker."

The legislator added that: "We did something historical by bringing the entire investigations of the oil sector into the public domain. The entire house leadership is resolved not to compromise the investigations. It gladdens one’s heart that the adhoc committee came up with a recommendation that N1.3trillion should be returned to Nigeria’s coffers.

"It shows that we still have honourable and credible people in this country. The NASS has done Nigeria proud. There are still people who believe that Nigeria must be great.

"It is expected that the price on imported fuel will drop and it will have direct bearing on the pump prices."

On the likelihood of compromise by the senate, Alhaji Mustapha said: "I don’t think the distinguished senators will compromise their stand if the report gets to them for consideration.

"There is no way this type of report can be swept under the carpet. If members of the house who are less experienced than the senators will not compromise their integrity, the essence is to get result."

He subscribed to the splitting of the petroleum ministry into two, saying that "sincerely speaking, I am in support of the splitting into two of the petroleum industry for efficiency."

He condemned "the recent bombings of some media houses in the country. But sincerely speaking there is the need for dialogue. War does not solve problem; dialogue does."