A comprehensive investigation into the alleged production and importation of adulterated or substandard petroleum products, the unavailability of crude oil required by domestic refineries, and wider threats to Nigeria’s energy security has been launched by the House of Representatives Joint Petroleum Committees on Midstream and Downstream sectors.
At the inaugural meeting, which Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu declared open on Monday, the Joint Investigative committees, chaired by Hons. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Downstream) and Hon. Henry Okojie (Midstream), urged all stakeholders to provide comprehensive support, including crucial data and documentation that will aid in the investigation.
During the committee’s inauguration, the Deputy Speaker urged investors to uphold the lofty ideals of openness, equity, justice, and professionalism in the execution of their duties.
He cautioned the committee not to compromise the fundamental principles of the 10th House of Representatives and charged them with taking into account the interests of the people—and only the Nigerian people—in their investigative work.
In their remarks at the ceremony, the Joint Investigation’s Chairman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the Chairman of Downstream, and the Chairman of Midstream, Hon. Henry Okogie, described the Committee’s approach and reaffirmed that stakeholder submissions and hearings have already started.
“The committee intends to conduct laboratory investigations at all local refineries, marketer and importer facilities, and regulatory agency labs such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA),” he stated. “This will ensure a thorough examination.” To gather samples for analysis, stop by the importers’ depots, different marketers’ filling stations, and other pertinent locations.
In order to determine the levels of sulfur and other important components, these samples will be analyzed in both their labs and other independent private labs. In an effort to address the problems, the committee will engage the services of a globally accredited laboratory and, if feasible, do in-person testing on all imported and domestically manufactured goods. Public announcement of the testing’s findings will be made for all petroleum products, both produced and imported.
Information, suggestions, and concerns were requested from refinery operators, independent fact finders, producers, importers, and marketers of petroleum products.
According to them, the investigation would be carried out gradually, starting with a review of allegations of substandard petroleum products being imported and produced domestically. They will also investigate the critical issue of refineries’ inability to obtain crude oil and the circumstances surrounding it.
In accordance with the House’s directive, the committee revealed that it has selected thirty crucial subjects to investigate; nevertheless, it will focus on two primary concerns at first.
“The committee affirmed that the findings will stretch to crude produced and the quantity that ought to go to local refiners and the reasons for falling short, the impact of crude forward sales on availability of crude to domestic refiners and other issues, aside from finding a final solution to the alleged embarrassing issue of non-availability of crude supply to domestic refiners both modular and big refiners.”
Key stakeholders, such as the Minister of Petroleum (Oil), the management of NNPCL, the GCEO Mele Kyari, Executive Vice President Downstream and Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Operations Officers, and their lab heads or testing partners, have reportedly received letters of invitation for paper submissions and appearances, according to the lawmakers.
In addition, there are importers, marketers, depot owners, independent oil producers, international oil companies (IOCs), PETROAN, IPMAN, and the CEO of NUPRC.
The committee’s chairman also underlined that the probe’s goal is to pinpoint and address the fundamental problems besetting Nigeria’s petroleum industry. The lawmakers asked pertinent parties to refrain from criticizing the media while the investigation is ongoing.
