•Wale Edun
The Senate has summoned various stakeholders and operators in the petroleum sector for interrogation over alleged economic sabotage in the sector, just as it said that Nigeria as a country is bleeding.
The Senate Ad – hoc committee that has been mandated to carry out a holistic investigation over alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, has vowed that there will be no sacred cow during the process as it was prepared to name names, saying that it would unravel the roots of economic sabotage in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and make necessary recommendations that will entrench global best practices.
Addressing Journalists today in Abuja, Chairman of the 15 – man Committee and leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC Ekiti Central, said that with the Petroleum Industry Act, the Committee has been empowered to carry out its work effectively in line with the law of the land and those who may be nursing the idea of not honouring the invitation will have themselves to be blamed as all the relevant laws will be used to ensure that there is warrant of arrest.
Bamidele who was flanked by other members of the Committee during the briefing, warned that it will no longer be business as usual as this investigation will be different from the previous ones, reports Vanguard.
Other members of the ad-hoc Committee include Senator Adams Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North; Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central; Senator Osita Izunazo, APC, Imo West; Senator Ifeanyi Uba, APC, Anambra South; Senator Diket Plang, APC, Plateau Central, Senator Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North; Senator Adetokunboh Abiru, APC, Lagos East; Senator Sahabi Ya’u, APC, Zamfara North and Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, PDP, Kebbi North.
Others are Senator Mustapha Khabeeb, APC, Jigawa South West; Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo, APC, Cross River South; Senator Williams Jonah, APC, Cross River Central; Senator Ipaligo Banigo, PDP, Rivers West and Olamilekan Adeola, APC, Ogun West.
Stakeholders in the petroleum sector summoned to appear before the committee at public hearing fixed for September 10th to September 12th, 2024, are the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Trade and Investment; Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL); (National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO) and Contractors); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Others are Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC); Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON); Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy; OBAT Oil; and Matrix Energy Depot.
Also summoned are Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN); International Oil Companies (IOCs); Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN); Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN); Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA); Dangote Group; Modular Refineries and Capital Oil.
Senator Bamidele said, “The public hearing will be held as from September 10th 12th, 2024. The sessions will enable us to engage directly with key actors in the petroleum industry and unravel those behind the illicit practice of importing hazardous and substandard petroleum products into the country contrary to established protocols and standards. After the public hearing, the committee will go into close sessions during which we consider all the submissions from the key actors, draft our report and the eventual adoption of the report.
“The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Petroleum Industry assures the public that we will pursue this investigation with the utmost diligence and integrity. We are dedicated to safeguarding the interests of all Nigerians and restoring confidence in our energy sector.
”We call on all relevant stakeholders to cooperate fully with our investigation. Together, we can ensure that such an incident does not re-occur and that the integrity of our fuel supply chain is maintained and the timelines for the start-up of funded oil refineries, are determined.
“May I categorically state that this Ad-Hoc Committee is not meant to witch hunt any individual or group of people, or corporation, but rather to find a lasting solution for our collective mutual gains. To this regard, the Ad-Hoc Committee seeks the cooperation of stakeholders in order not to jeopardize the good intention of the Senate.
“Our mandate is of strategic national interests. Each member of the committee is carefully selected based on his/her records of sterling performance. We are all men of integrity who will never pursue selfish interests at the expense of the national interests. The Senate did not constitute this committee to intimidate and witch-hunt any party. Rather, the committee was constituted for the purpose of ensuring social and economic justice in the light of grim realities we are facing as a federation.
“We are also taking this task seriously with a view to addressing fundamental issues that pose grave threats to our economic prosperity, fiscal stability and public health as a federation. In line with our mandate, we will definitely unravel the roots of economic sabotage in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and make necessary recommendations that will entrench global best practices in the industry and open it up for more investments, especially in the midstream and downstream sectors. We are utterly committed to this -mandate. We shall also carry out this national -assignment without fear or favour. We shall be fair and just to all parties with a view to promoting and protecting the strategic national interests of our fatherland.”
