The House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current Joint Ad Hoc Downstream and Midstream Committee investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues.
This was as two lawmakers distanced themselves from an advertorial calling for the sack of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari.
At the committee’s inauguration penultimate Monday, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, speaking on behalf of the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, expressed concern over the resurgence of fuel queues at petrol stations, the increasing cost of Premium Motor Spirit, and the unavailability of crude oil feedstock for domestic refineries.
Kalu noted that the investigation would extend to other related issues impacting the sector, emphasising the need for compliance with global standards in the quality of petroleum products imported into Nigeria.
He stressed that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria must ensure that all petrol imported into the country was rigorously tested in laboratories to meet standard sulphur and octane levels.
“It is unacceptable that the petrol imported into the country contains high sulphur levels. This has previously led to socioeconomic losses, including the damaging of vehicle engines.
“One critical aspect we must address is the infrastructure for quality assurance that enables robust testing of petroleum products with full adherence to the standard practice for manual sampling,” Kalu said.
He tasked the joint committee with investigating the quality and the number of laboratories that both the NMDPRA and SON use for their tests and to provide actionable feedback.
Since the probe began, the House has faced controversies, with lawmakers splitting into various groups and factions.
The ad hoc committee, led by Ikenga Ugochinyere (Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Downstream), had been calling for the sack of the NNPLC helmsman, Kyari, while another group of 50 lawmakers has called for his retention.
The lawmakers, led by Billy Famous Osawaru (Edo State), said the call for the sacking of Kyari, when an investigation was ongoing, was an action against the parliamentary culture.
However, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, the spokesperson for the House, Rotimi Akin, announced that the ad hoc committee had been dissolved and a new one would be constituted.
Akin said, “The leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current Joint Ad Hoc Downstream and Midstream Committee.
“Initially tasked with investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues, this committee will be succeeded by a newly constituted ad hoc committee with the same mandate.”
Akin said to ensure the efficacy and independence of the investigation, “the new committee will consist of honourable members selected for their expertise, competence, and integrity.”
“The House remains committed to addressing these vital issues and ensuring thorough oversight. Further details on the new committee’s operations will be provided in due course,” the House spokesman said.
Meanwhile, two members of the House of Representatives, Mukhtar Shagaya and Sesi Whingan, have disowned the inclusion of their names in an advertorial placed in some national dailies.
The advertorial called for caution in the ongoing probe by the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources Midstream and Downstream on the challenges affecting the sectors.
Shagaya (APC, Kwara) and Whingan(APC, Lagos), in separate statements on Monday in Abuja, condemned the unauthorised inclusion of their names in the “1 AGENDA” statement.
According to Shagaya, the parliament has a constitutional duty to investigate complaints and concerns before taking any stance.
It would be recalled that on July 3, about 118 lawmakers, under the banner of 1 AGENDA, placed an advertorial reportedly aimed at protecting the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.
Shagaya explained that the reason for the clarification was because silence on matters as sensitive as that of the NNPCL could often be misinterpreted as concurrence.
“I wish to address the recent publication attributed to a coalition named ‘1 AGENDA’, which falsely included my name as one of the 118 lawmakers behind the statement titled “NNPCL: A Call for Caution.”
“I categorically state that I am neither a member of this so-called coalition nor aware of its existence until the publication of this statement.
“I did not sign any statement nor was I consulted or informed about it. The inclusion of my name, listed as number 62 among the supposed supporters, is both unauthorised and misleading.
“To avoid any misconceptions, I firmly believe in the right to a fair hearing, particularly concerning issues related to the NNPCL and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority,” he said.
He added that the House of Representatives had a constitutional duty to investigate complaints and concerns before taking any stance, and he fully supported the process.
“Furthermore, I call on the group behind this publication, ‘1 AGENDA’, to immediately withdraw the statement and tender a public apology to me for this unauthorised inclusion.
“I remain committed to serving my constituents and upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and due process in all legislative activities,” Shagaya added.
Similarly, Whingan said he was neither present at any such meeting nor was part of any resolution process regarding the matter.
“I did not sign the said document or any document related to this organisation, and has no knowledge of the existence of 1 AGENDA or its objectives.
“I find it necessary to clarify my stance and to correct this misrepresentation. The publication in question did not reflect my views or position on the matter, and I firmly disassociate myself from it.
“I support the rightful process of investigation and fair hearing in addressing any issues related to the NNPCL and the NMDPRA instituted by the House of Reps and any existing legal framework.
“Additionally, as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), I maintain that any calls for action regarding the NNPCL and NMDPRA should be based on thorough investigations and factual evidence,” Whingan said.