The ad hoc committee of the Senate, tasked with investigating alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian petroleum industry, has summoned various stakeholders in the sector for questioning.
The 15-member committee, led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday. The committee emphasized the readiness to reveal the alleged saboteurs in the sector and outlined the scope of the assignment.
Notable stakeholders in the petroleum sector, including the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy, international oil companies (IOCs), Dangote Group, Capital Oil, and modular refineries among others, have been summoned to appear before the committee at a public hearing scheduled from September 10 to September 12, 2024.
The formation of the committee was sanctioned by the Senate on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, following a resolution adopted after extensive deliberation by senators on a motion sponsored by Senator Azuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South) regarding the importation of hazardous products and the dumping of substandard diesel in Nigeria.
During the press briefing, Senator Bamidele explained that the conference aimed to address the alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry, which includes recent accusations and rebuttals regarding the importation of petroleum products into the country.
The committee's specific mandates include examining the pre-shipment and pre-discharge standard test parameters adopted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, assessing the NNPCL’s compliance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, scrutinizing the activities of the NMDPRA including payments made to transporters in the last 10 years, and inquiring about the status of the 22 depots built by the defunct NNPC.
Additionally, the committee will engage with stakeholders within the oil and gas industry to identify possible gaps in regulating and strengthening surveillance and monitoring structures, understand the extent of the NNPCL’s determination and timelines for the start-up of government-funded oil refineries, and investigate the failure of institutions across the importation and distribution chain to conduct quality sampling and perform required audits and validations.
The 15-man committee has resolved to conduct thorough investigations, reaching out to all the relevant stakeholders in the sector for the submission of relevant documents and their appearance during the public hearing scheduled for September 10 to September 12, 2024. The committee members have expressed their commitment to uncovering irregularities and have emphasized that there will be no tolerance for non-cooperation from any head of the agency, stating that warrants of arrest will be issued if necessary.
The members of the committee include Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, Abdullahi Yahaya, Mohammed Sani Musa, Adeola Olamilekan, Dimka Ayuba, Banigo Harry, Mustapha Sani, Adams Oshiomhole, Jonah Jang, Adetokunbo Abiru, Osita Izunaso, Sahabi Alhaji, Abdul Ningi, and Ifeanyi Ubah.