The Senate has resolved to begin probe into
what it described as the poor state of the nation’s refineries.
According to the Senate
despite $25 billion spent in the last 25 years, the refineries are still in
comatose.
Consequently, the Senate mandated its
Committees on Petroleum Resources Downstream, Upstream and Gas Resources
to urgently carry out a holistic investigation into the matter, with a view to
finding a lasting solution to the problem.
Meanwhile, President of the Senate, Senator
Ahmad Lawan, has informed that the Committees on Petroleum Resources Upstream,
Downstream and Gas had been mandated to Kick Start the working process on the
Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, for the Senate to begin the passage process next
month.
Lawan who stated
this during discussions on a point of order titled: “The Moribund
Refineries In the Country,” by Senator Abubakar Yusuf, said the PIB would
be worked on in February, noting that “there are issues that will occupy the
committee members saddled with the responsibility of investigating the state of
the refineries but urged them to do a thorough job and report back to the
Senate. Committees are to investigate the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) carried
out by the NNPC and ascertain their current state,” Lawan said.
Resolution of the Senate to investigate the
poor state of the refineries’ was sequel to a point of order by Senator
Yusuf, who came under Order 42 and 52.
– Media Report