Senate Pledges to Unmask Saboteurs in Oil Sector.
The Nigerian Senate has pledged to expose and hold accountable individuals or organizations involved in economic sabotage within the nation’s petroleum industry. This commitment, led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who also chairs the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on this matter, aims to tackle issues threatening Nigeria’s economic prosperity, fiscal stability, and public health.
The committee, in fulfilling its mandate, will thoroughly investigate the origins of economic sabotage in the petroleum sector and provide recommendations to promote global best practices and attract investments, particularly in the midstream and downstream sectors. The investigation will be conducted impartially, with a focus on protecting Nigeria’s strategic national interests.
A key aspect of the investigation will involve examining the pre-shipment and pre-discharge test parameters used by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority to identify loopholes that might allow the importation of toxic petroleum products. The committee will also evaluate the compliance of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (NNPC) direct sale and direct purchase arrangements with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s activities will be scrutinized, particularly payments made to transporters over the past decade. The committee will look into the status of the 22 depots built by the defunct NNPC aimed at eliminating road distribution of petroleum products. Additionally, stakeholders within the oil and gas industry will be engaged to identify areas for regulatory improvement and strengthen surveillance and monitoring structures to detect violations of best practice standards in product importation.
The committee will also engage with the NNPC to understand the progress and timelines for the operation of government-funded oil refineries. It will investigate failures within the importation and distribution chain, such as the lack of quality sampling and auditing of shipped products.
Senate Leader Bamidele emphasized that the committee’s formation is not intended to intimidate or witch-hunt but to ensure social and economic justice in light of the challenges facing the nation. The committee is committed to conducting its investigation with diligence and integrity, safeguarding the interests of all Nigerians, and restoring confidence in the energy sector.
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The cooperation of all relevant stakeholders is deemed crucial, and the committee appeals for their full support. Public hearings are scheduled from September 10th to 12th, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to expose those responsible for illegally importing hazardous and substandard petroleum products into Nigeria.
Bamidele acknowledged the suffering caused by saboteurs but assured the nation that this committee would not follow the path of previous, ineffective efforts. The 9th Senate’s successful passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), after numerous failed attempts by previous assemblies, is a testament to the 10th Senate’s determination to end sabotage in the petroleum industry through the work of this Ad-hoc committee.
