Senate summons Petroleum Minister , NNPCL , CBN NPA, others over alleged economic sabotage

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Senate through its Ad – hoc committee mandated to investigate alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry , has summoned various stakeholders in the sector for interrogation .
The 15 – man Committee led by the Leader of the Senate , Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC Ekiti Central), made this known to journalists on Thursday at a press briefing on scope of assignment given it and its readiness to unveil the alleged saboteurs in the sector.
Key among the 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 , Senator Heineken Lokpobiri , the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL) , the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) and the Nigeria Ports Authority ( NPA) .
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 Committee was set up by the Senate in plenary on Wednesday , July 3rd , 2024 through resolution adopted after exhaustive debate by Senators on motion sponsored by Senator Azuquo Ekpenyong ( APC Cross River South) on importation of Hazardous Products and dumping of substandard Diesel into Nigeria.
In his speech at the press briefing , Senator 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.