The 15-member Ad-hoc Committee, set up by the Senate to probe the alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum sector, on Thursday, threatened to use a warrant of arrest against any invitee refusing an appearance.
The Committee issued this threat while briefing journalists at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, stating that it would apply the law to compel attendance on invitees who might refuse appearance during the investigation.
It also assured Nigerians that there would be no sacred cow in the process of executing the assignment, pointing out that anyone found culpable in the sabotage probe would be exposed, notwithstanding the person’s position in the society.
The Committee also summoned the Petroleum Minister, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), among others.
Others are the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy, International Oil Companies (IOCs), Dangote Group, Capital Oil, Modular Refineries etc.
The Ad-hoc Committee, which is Chaired by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, was given six weeks to comprehensively conduct the probe and submit its report to the Senate Committee of the Whole for consideration and possible adoption.
In his speech during the press briefing, Bamidele noted the reservations of Nigerians via questions from journalists, on the ability of the Committee to be different from past Ad-hoc Committees, by coming up with meaningful and impactful reports that would expose perpetrators of economic sabotage in the Petroleum Sector.
He stressed that the integrity of the members of the Committee was at stake before Nigerians, pointing out that they would do their best to place national interest over and above personal interest, assuring that they would not fail Nigerians in the assignment.
“We heard you loud and clear. Your skepticism is the skepticism of Nigerians. I want to assure you that we will compel the attendance of anyone invited. We will do what is in the overriding public interest. We will do our duty without fear or favour.
“There will be no sacred cows. We will look into all the accusations and counter-accusations between Dangote and other stakeholders in the petroleum sector,” Bamidele assured.
He observed further that, in the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Assemblies, there was no law to guide the operations of the Petroleum industry just as he noted that a law is now available to guide and control activities of the sector, saying: “there was no Petroleum Industry Act in the past Assemblies but now, we have a law upon which we can anchor and carry out this investigation.”
The Committee was set up by the Senate in plenary on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, through a resolution adopted after exhaustive debate by Senators on a motion sponsored by Senator Azuquo Ekpenyong (APC Cross River South) on the importation of Hazardous Products and dumping of substandard Diesel into Nigeria.
Speaking further, Bamidele said: “The rationale for this news conference is pure and simple. It mainly borders on the alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry. including the recent accusations and counter of importation of petroleum products into the country.
“Given its consequences on our domestic economy, the Senate under the able leadership of The President of the Senate, Senator Gadswill Akpabio, constituted this 15-man Ad-hoc Committee to investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry on July 3, 2024.
“Specifically, the committee as mandated by the Senate, would examine the pre-shipment and pre-discharge standard test parameters adopted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority with a view to uncovering loopholes, if any, being exploited to get toxic cargoes into the country.
“Determine the level of compliance of the NNPCL’s Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSP) arrangements in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, including the extent of transparency and accountability. Beam legislative searchlight on the activities of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), 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. 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.
“Also engage with the NNPCL to understand the extent of its determination and timelines for the start-up of government-funded oil refineries. Investigate how institutions across the importation and distribution chain failed to conduct quality sampling, shipped in products without auditing, and performed port validations by the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON); and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).”
Consequently, according to the Chairman, the 15-man Committee has resolved to carry out the investigations holistically and thoroughly and has written all the relevant stakeholders in the sector for submission of relevant documents and appearance before it during the public hearing, fixed for September 10th to September 12th, 2024.
In their separate remarks at the press briefing, all the members of the Committee vowed to unravel the rot in the sector and declared that it would no longer be business as usual.
According to them, their integrity is at stake and there would be no room for sacred cows, declaring ” that warrant of arrest would be issued on any head of agency who refuses to honour invitation for appearance.”
Members of the Committee are ÷ Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, Abdullahi Yahaya, Nohammed Minguno, Adeola Olamilekan, Diket Plang, Harry Banigo, Khabeeb Mustapha, Adams Oshiomhole, Jonah Eteng , Adetokunbo Abiru, Osita Izunaso, Sahabi Ya’u Alhaji Abdul Ningi and Ifeanyi Ubah.