The House of Representatives Joint Petroleum Committees on Midstream and Downstream sectors have initiated an extensive investigation into allegations of adulterated and substandard petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and broader threats to Nigeria’s energy security.
The Joint Investigative Committees, chaired by Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Downstream), and Henry Okojie (Midstream), began their inquiry with an inaugural meeting on Monday, opened by Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu.
Kalu urged all stakeholders to provide comprehensive support, including essential information and documentation, to aid the investigation.
In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker emphasized the importance of transparency, fairness, justice, and professionalism.
He charged the committee to prioritize the interests of the Nigerian people and uphold the core values of the 10th House of Representatives.
Ugochinyere and Okojie outlined the committee’s strategy and confirmed that hearings and submissions from stakeholders have commenced.
They called on 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 examination of allegations concerning the local production and importation of substandard petroleum products and the critical issue of crude oil non-availability to refineries.
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.
- Examine samples in labs, including alternative private independent labs, to ascertain sulfur levels and other critical components.
- Hire an internationally certified lab to conduct live testing of all imported and locally produced products. The results will be publicly announced.
The committee aims to find a final solution to the non-availability of crude supply to domestic refiners, both modular and large.
They will investigate crude production, the quantity intended for local refiners, the reasons for shortfalls, and the impact of crude forward sales on domestic supply.
Letters of invitation for paper submissions and appearances have been dispatched to key stakeholders, including the Minister for Petroleum (Oil), NNPCL management, GCEO Mele Kyari, Executive Vice President Downstream, and Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA, among others. Other invitees include IPMAN, PETROAN, NUPRC CEO, independent oil producers, international oil companies (IOCs), importers, marketers, and depot owners.
The committee emphasized that the investigation aims to identify and resolve the underlying issues in Nigeria’s petroleum sector and urged stakeholders to refrain from attacking the media until the investigation is concluded.