Section 8: Power and duties of public officers.

(1) The Minister-
(a) shall exercise general supervision over all operations carried on under licences and leases granted under this Act;
(b) shall report annually to the Federal Government on the progress of the oil industry in Nigeria;
(c) shall have access at all times to the areas covered by oil exploration licences, oil prospecting licences and oil mining leases, and to all refineries and installations which are subject to this Act, for the purpose of inspecting the operations conducted therein and enforcing the provisions of this Act and any regulations made thereunder and the conditions of any licences or leases granted under this Act or under any corresponding law for the time being in force in Nigeria;
(d) may arrest without warrant any person whom he finds committing, or whom he reasonably suspects of having committed, any offence under this Act or any regulations made thereunder, and shall hand over any person so arrested to a police officer with as little delay as possible;
(e) may by notice in writing require the holder of a licence or lease granted under this Act or any contractor working for the holder (or any servant or agent of the holder or the contractor) to appear before him at a reasonable time and place to give such information as he may require about the operations being conducted under the licence or lease, and every person so required to appear shall be legally bound to comply with the notice and give the information;
(f) may direct in writing that operations under a licence or lease granted under this Act shall be suspended in any area until arrangements have been made which in his opinion are necessary to prevent danger to life or property;
(g) may direct in writing the suspension of any operations which in his opinion are not being conducted in accordance with good oil field practice; and
(h) may direct in writing the suspension of any operations where in his opinion a contravention of this Act or any regulations made thereunder has been or may have been or is likely to be committed.
(2) The Director of Geological Survey shall have access at all times to the areas covered by oil exploration licences, oil prospecting licences and oil mining leases for the purpose of inspecting geophysical and geological operations therein.