The House of Representatives has commenced investigation into the alleged importation of adulterated petroleum products and scarcity of crude oil for refineries.
Recall that the House at the plenary on July 9 constituted a Joint Petroleum Committees on Midstream and Downstream sectors to conduct a forensic investigation towards
addressing the pressing issues within Nigeria’s energy sector.
Delivering his keynote address at its inaugural meeting on Monday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas said that the resurgence of fuel queues at petrol stations, increasing cost of Premium Motor Spirit and the unavailability of crude oil feedstock for our downstream domestic refineries are of particular concern.
Represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, he said that the quality of petroleum products imported into Nigeria has come under scrutiny, and relevant stakeholders must ensure compliance with global standards.
According to him, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) must guarantee that all petrol imported into the country is rigorously tested in
laboratories to meet the standard sulphur and octane levels.
He stated that It is unacceptable that the petrol imported into the country contains high sulphur levels, is leaded, and has low octane levels.
He said, “In carbon control economies, maintaining high octane levels is a significant regulatory issue for both energy regulators and environmental protection agencies. The lower the octane level, the cheaper the cost of refining, but this should not be at the expense of quality and environmental standards. The role of regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organization of
Nigeria (SON), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and NMDPRA is pivotal in ensuring that the petrol consumed in Nigeria is of environmentally friendly grade.
“As for the difficulties encountered by domestic refiners in accessing reliable
supplies of crude oil feedstock for their refineries, it must be reiterated that
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to providing a level playing
ground for producers and refiners to do business in the industry. Therefore,
I implore the rule of engagement to ensure that the pricing model from the
oil producers does not hinder the domestic refineries. I also implore the Joint Petroleum Committees on Midstream and Downstream sectors to work toward a convergence between the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation and the nation’s energy security as it works with the sector regulators to re-engineer their respective regulatory processes to address the challenges.”
Commending the Chairman of the Committees Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and Hon Henry Okojie on their diligent efforts, he urged them to move with a shared sense of purpose and determination to ensure that Nigeria’s energy sector operates at the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
In his remarks, Ugochinyere called on all stakeholders to provide comprehensive support, including essential information and documentation.
He urged refinery operators, importers, producers, and marketers of petroleum products to share their complaints, suggestions, and independent facts.
Adding that the investigation aims to identify and resolve the underlying issues plaguing Nigeria’s petroleum sector, the lawmaker urged relevant stakeholders to deviate from any attack on media pending conclusion of investigation.