The House of Representatives has dissolved the joint ad-hoc Committee probing the importation of adulterated petroleum products into the country and other infractions in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
House Spokesman and Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday said a new committee will be constituted to carry out the investigation.
The prove was hitherto being carried out by the Joint House Committees on Downstream and the House Committee on Midstream.
The Green Chamber had at the plenary on July 9, adopted a motion on, “Urgent need to carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the challenges affecting the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors in Nigeria and other related matters to find out a lasting solution to all challenges”.
The House subsequently mandated the Committees on Petroleum Resources Midstream and Downstream to carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the resurgence of fuel queues in petrol stations, allegations of high cost of PMS, unavailability of fuel stock for downstream domestic refineries, disruption of distribution of PMS products, unfair subsidization of PMS and other petroleum products, racketeering among others.
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote had also recently expressed disapproval of the harm that inferior products cause to automobiles and engines.
He requested the House to look into the quality of the laboratories utilised to evaluate imported goods and contrast it with the Dangote Refinery’s laboratory.
Addressing newsmen during the inauguration of the committee on July 22, Ikenga Ugochinyere said the lawmakers would begin the probe by addressing allegations concerning the importation of substandard petroleum products and the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries, which he said has raised serious concerns about the quality and safety of fuel in our market.
There have also been calls by some members of the committee for President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari and the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed for allegedly stifling the economy’s growth due to the oil sector crisis.
But not long into the activities of the committee, some lawmakers in the Green Chamber reportedly numbering 50 led by Hon. Billy Famous Osawaru (Edo State) faulted the calls for the removal of Kyari and Farouk.
Osawaru said it is in the parliamentary culture to afford parties in the investigation of the right for fair hearing and called on the committee handling the probe to be impartial.
But Osawaru said the call for the sacking of Kyari when an investigation is currently being carried out was an action that is against parliamentary culture.
The statement reads: “The Leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint 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.
“To ensure the efficacy and independence of this 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.”
