The Senate on Thursday vowed to expose saboteurs in the petroleum sector and those responsible for the importation of toxic fuel into the country.
The “Senate Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry” made this assertion during a briefing in Abuja.
The Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, who is also the Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, read the text of the press conference, flanked by all members of the panel.
Bamidele said: “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.”
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Members of the Committee are: Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, Abdullahi Yahaya, Nohammed Monguno, Solomon Adeola, Diket Plang, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Khabeeb Mustapha, Adams Oshiomhole, Jonah Eteng, Adetokunbo Abiru, Osita Izunaso, Sahabi Ya’u Alhaji, Abdul Ningi and Ifeanyi Ubah.
The Ad-Hoc Committee said it would in due court summon various stakeholders in the sector for interrogation.
Key among the stakeholders are the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) , the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).
Others are the 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, Modular Refineries, etc.
Bamidele said the assignment of the Ad-Hoc committee bordered on the alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry, “including the recent accusations and counter of importation of petroleum products into the country.”
He said given its consequences the domestic economy, the Senate constituted the 15-man Ad-hoc Committee to investigate Alleged Economic Sabatage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry on July 3, 2024 to look into allegation.
He said: “We are all aware that the Petroleum industry has been on the front burner of public discourse since the creation of this Ad-Hoc Committee, as regulators and industry players continue to make one accusation or the other on various issues relating to the general operations of the Petroleum Industry.
“Hence, the need for this press conference to educate the general public on the mandates, workings, and of course the modalities adopted by the Ad-Hoc Committee to carry out this assignment.
“The creation of this Ad-Hoc Committee became overwhelmingly necessary after an extensive debate on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, following a motion on Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Petroleum Industry sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South) with a clear mandate.
“It will interest you to note that during debate on the motion, Distinguished Senators, in their contributions expressed dismay and described it as economic sabotage and a clear failure of the Government Statutory Agencies charged with the responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s economic interest, to live up to their expectations.
“Hence, an Ad-Hoc Committee was constituted to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all the prayers and report to the Senate within three (3) weeks.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Terms of Reference of the Ad-Hoc Committee include:
Examine the pre-shipment and pre-discharge standard test parameters adopted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority with a view to uncovering loopholes, if any, being exploited to get toxic cargoes into the country.
“Determine the level of compliance of the NNPCL’s Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSP) arrangements in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, including the extent of transparency and accountability in the
“Beam legislative searchlight on the activities of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), including payments made to transporters in the last 10 years;
“Enquire from the NNPCL the state/status of the 22 depots built by the defunct NNPC to eliminate road distribution of petroleum products;
“Engage with stakeholders within the oil and gas industry with a view to identifying possible gaps in regulating and strengthening the surveillance and monitoring structures in place to enable Nigeria to detect violations of best practice standards in the importation of products before they enter into the domestic supply chains;
“Also engage with the NNPCL with a view to understanding the extent of its determination and timelines for the start-up of government-funded oil refineries;
“Investigate how institutions across the importation and distribution chain failed to conduct quality sampling, shipped in products without auditing, and performed port validations by the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON); and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); and Such other consequential amendments the Ad-Hoc Committee deems fit.”
He added: “Members of the Ad-Hoc Committee immediately rolled up their sleeves, met on several occasions to determine the best ways to achieve its mandate, and collectively resolved to sacrifice a portion of their recess period to carry on with the assignment devoid of bias in the overall national and public interest.
“This commitment led to the inauguration of the Ad-Hoc Committee by the President of the Senate, His Excellency Senator Obot Akpabio, GCON, on Monday, July 22, 2024.”
According to the Senate Leader, the Ad-Hoc Committee has identified some critical stakeholders to interact with in the course of discharging its assignment.
He listed the stakeholder to include: The Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO) and Contractors.
Others are the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy, OBAT Oil, Matrix Energy Depot, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), International Oil Companies (IOCs),
Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Dangote Group, Modular Refineries and
Capital Oil.