By Comfort Olayinka
The House of Representatives’ Joint Petroleum Committees on Midstream and Downstream sectors have launched a comprehensive investigation into pressing issues in Nigeria’s energy sector. The committees are probing allegations of adulterated and substandard petroleum products, the unavailability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and broader threats to the country’s energy security.
The joint investigative committees, chaired by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Downstream) and supported by Hon. Henry Okojie (Midstream), held their inaugural meeting on Monday. They urged all stakeholders to provide comprehensive support, including essential information and documentation, to aid the investigation.
Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, inaugurated the committee and charged them to uphold the principles of transparency, fairness, justice, and professionalism in their inquiry. He emphasized the need to prioritize the interests of the Nigerian people and adhere to the core values of the 10th House of Representatives.
The Chairman of Downstream, Hon. Ugochinyere, and Chairman of Midstream, Hon. Okogie, outlined the committee’s strategy and confirmed that hearings and submissions from stakeholders have begun. They encouraged refinery operators, importers, producers, and marketers of petroleum products to share their complaints, suggestions, and independent facts.
The investigation will proceed in phases, starting with the probe into allegations of local production and importation of substandard petroleum products and the critical issue of crude oil non-availability to refineries. The committee has identified 30 key items for investigation, but will initially focus on two primary concerns.
“To ensure a thorough examination, the committee plans 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), visit various filling stations of different marketers, importers’ depots, and other relevant sites to collect samples for analysis.
“These samples will be examined in their labs, and also in alternative private independent labs to ascertain sulfur levels and other critical components. The committee will hire an internationally certified lab and where possible conduct live testing of all imported and locally produced products to help resolve the issues. The results of such testing on all imported and produced petroleum products, will be announced publicly.
“The committee affirmed that apart from finding a final solution to the alleged embarrassing issue of non-availability of crude supply to domestic refiners both modular and big refiners, 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”, the Committee added.
The Lawmakers said that letters of invitation for paper submissions and appearances have been dispatched to key stakeholders, including the Minister for 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.
Others include, IPMAN, PETROAN, NUPRC, CEO, independent oil producers, international oil companies (IOCs), importers, marketers, and depot owners.
The lawmakers stated that the investigation seeks to uncover and address the fundamental problems in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, and appealed to all parties involved to refrain from criticizing the media until the investigation is complete.
