Those behind adulterated petroleum products’ importation in the country may be in hot soup as a the House of Representatives has begun a hunt for them.
It is to come and explain the preponderance of adulterated/substandard petroleum products in the country as against the the non-availability of crude oil needed by domestic refineries.
Aside the capital costs of the problem, the broader threats to Nigeria’s energy security inform why the lower chamber is on the hunt for them.
The House of Representatives Joint Petroleum Committees on Midstream and Downstream sectors confirmed it had begun a thorough investigation into the alleged production/importation of adulterated/substandard petroleum products
Chaired by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Downstream) and Hon. Henry Okojie (Midstream), at the inaugural meeting which was declared Open by the Deputy Speaker Rep Benjamin Kalu on Monday, called on all stakeholders to provide comprehensive support in their bid.
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Such support it said, included essential information and documentation that would help with the investigation.
Giving guidelines how it should expedite its mandate, the Deputy Speaker harped on the need to hold dearly the sacred principles of transparency, fairness, justice and professionalism.
Rather than compromise, the interest of the Nigerian people, should inform the attitude of the committee to the carrying out of its duties, it said.
Both heads of the Midstream and Downstream committees also urged other key players like refinery operators, importers, producers, and marketers of petroleum products to make valuable contribution to the efforts to sanitise the sector.
They said they should do this by sharing relevant information and suggestions concerning adulterated petroleum products’ importation into the country.
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According to them, their investigation would be carried out in phases, covering about 30 key items, including laboratory investigations of all local refineries, marketer and importer facilities, and regulatory agency labs.
Laboratories which would be checked include the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), filling stations of different marketers and importers’ depots, amongst others.
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