Worried by the continued importation of refined crude products, the Senate has concluded plans to investigate billions of dollars spent on turnaround maintenance of the state-owned refineries in the last decade to address deep-rooted challenges in the industry.
The investigation embarked upon by the lawmakers would require that it review funds approved during the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023.
Aside from that, the lawmakers have decided not to let the dust raised during the row over Dangote refinery’s status settle after it summoned different federal government agencies and individuals for questioning over alleged economic sabotage in the country’s petroleum industry.
Agencies invited by the lawmakers were the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Dangote Group, and Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, among others.
The Leader of the Senate and Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, Opeyemi Bamidele, reeled out the plans during a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
After its inauguration recently, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio charged the 15-man ad-hoc committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the allegations within three weeks.
Bamidele pledged to embark on a holistic investigation into the allegations of economic sabotage in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
The chairman also assured Nigerians that the committee would carry out a thorough investigation into diverse reasons the state-owned refineries have not been operational for years despite a budget earmarked for turnaround maintenance.
Specifically, Bamidele noted that the contractors handling the turnaround maintenance for the refineries would be invited to let the committee on the situation of things.
Bamidele added that the investigation would not be an armchair investigation, pointing out that the ad-hoc committee members had already set machinery in motion to visit Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Warri to engage key actors in the petroleum industry.
He said: “It is pertinent to note that in the course of interactions with the identified stakeholders, the ad-hoc committee will visit any of their facilities that it deems necessary, especially the state-owned refineries, to ascertain their status, considering the funds already invested in the various turn around maintenances year without any meaningful result.
“The ad-hoc committee is particularly interested in understanding why local refineries are not working despite the substantial amounts of money spent annually on their maintenance and operations. We will closely examine what the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited has been doing to address this persistent problem.”
He further revealed that the ad-hoc committee had identified some critical stakeholders to interact with in the course of discharging this noble assignment
The stakeholders, according to him, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy, Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited, Matrix Energy Depot Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, International Oil Companies (IOCs), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Capital Oil and Modular Refineries.
Bamidele added that the ad-hoc committee “will meet with stakeholders in their various zones to gather localised insights and feedback. To ensure broad participation and transparency, the ad-hoc committee will create a platform for the general public and stakeholders to submit memoranda before the public hearings.”
He categorically stated that part of mandate of the committee meant “to uncover parties involved in the importation of adulterated fuel and diesel into the country.
“Our investigation seeks to identify and hold accountable all parties involved in the importation and distribution of the adulterated petroleum products. This includes suppliers, importers, regulatory bodies, and any other entities that may have contributed to this serious lapse in quality control.
“We will conduct a thorough review of current regulatory frameworks and procedures to identify deficiencies and recommend necessary reforms to prevent such occurrences in the future. The Committee is committed to ensuring the highest standards of fuel quality for the Nigerian market.”
Bamidele noted that the ad-hoc committee would beam legislative searchlight on the activities of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority including payments made to transporters in the last 10 years.
He noted that the ad-hoc committee would enquire from the NNPCL the state and status of the 22 depots built by the defunct NNPC to eliminate road distribution of petroleum products.
He, therefore, appealed to various stakeholders “to cooperate with the committee so that there can be lasting solution to problems in the oil sector. Our mandate is of strategic national interests.
“Each member of the committee is carefully selected based on his/her records of sterling performance. We are all men of integrity who will never pursue selfish interests at the expense of the national interests.
“The Senate did not constitute this committee to intimidate and witch-hunt any party. Rather, the committee was constituted for the purpose of ensuring social and economic justice in the light of grim realities we are facing as a federation.
“We are also taking this task seriously with a view to addressing fundamental issues that pose grave threats to our economic prosperity, fiscal stability and public health as a federation.
“In line with our mandate, we will definitely unravel the roots of economic sabotage in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and make necessary recommendations that will entrench global best practices in the industry and open it up for more investments, especially in the midstream and downstream sectors.
“We are utterly committed to this mandate. We shall also carry out this national assignment without fear or favour. We shall be fair and just to all parties with a view to promoting and protecting the strategic national interests of our fatherland.”
Other members of the ad-hoc committee, who attended the news conference, include Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), Osita Izunazo (Imo West), Ifeanyi Uba (Anambra South), Diket Plang (Plateau Central), Tahir Monguno (Borno North) and Abdullah Yahaha (Kebbi North).
