Alleged Economic Sabotage in Petroleum Sector: Senate panel commences investigation

The Ad-hoc Committee to investigate alleged Economic Sabotage in the Petroleum Sector has commenced investigation barely a month after it’s inauguration by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio.

In his opening address at a one-day stakeholders’ interactive session on Wednesday in Abuja, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi charged feuding stakeholders to ceasefire and allow investigation to be carried out by the panel.

He said the Committee would work in the interest of the country, emphasizing that no one was under trial, hence, all stakeholders in the industry should be ready to cooperate which requires releasing some sensitive documents to the Committee for their perusal.

The allegation of economic sabotage in the petroleum sector he said has been in the public domain through the media with accusation and counteraccusation, stressing that such accusation was not in the public interest now that the Committee has commenced investigation.

He said: “I urge all parties to set aside the ongoing accusations and counter-accusations as we embark on a journey towards uncovering the truth behind these matters of economic importance.

“This Ad-Hoc Committee was set up by the Senate out of genuine concern for the well-being of our nation. I, therefore, assure you that we are all committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation across all areas outlined in the Senate Resolution of 3rd July 2024.”

Senator Opeyemi noted that it will be necessary for the Committee to look into the pre-shipment and pre-discharge standard test parameters adopted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority with a view to uncovering loopholes.

The lawmaker’s charge was at the behest of allegations of importation of toxic fuel and other oil-related substandard substances which he said, will be investigated.

He added: “Determine the level of compliance of the NNPCL’s Direct Sale and Direct Purchase arrangements in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, including the extent of transparency and accountability in the scheme.

“Beam legislative searchlight on the activities of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, including payments made to transporters in the last 10 years.
”Enquire from the NNPCL the state/status of the 22 depots built by the defunct NNPC to eliminate road distribution of petroleum products.”

He said the Committee will engage with stakeholders within the oil and gas industry to identify possible gaps in regulating and strengthening the surveillance and monitoring structures in place, to enable Nigeria to detect violations of best practice standards in the importation of products before they enter into the domestic supply chains.
In his presentation, the Group Chief Executive Officer/CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari assured the Committee of cooperation, insisting that the Company does have a skeleton in its cupboard.

He lamented that he and the NNPCL management have been under media attack by those who did not mean well for the country, notwithstanding that the NNPCL is a company that belongs to over 250 million Nigerians.

According to him, the NNPCL under his leadership has grown tremendously compared to its past in oil and gas activities, while he canvassed that the proceeding of the Adhoc investigation be transmitted live on major television stations for Nigerians to be aware of happenings in the NNPCL.

He said: “Mr Chairman, we in the NNPCL are not criminals, we are not thieves as is portrayed in the media. The company belongs to over 250 million Nigerians and the company is our future; the company belongs to all Nigerians.

Those in attendance for the interactive session were : the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Wale Edun, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, the National Chairman of IPMAN; Dangote Refinery, Executive Secretary of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed and other stakeholders.