The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, revealed plans to resume investigation into controversy trailing the $18 billion allegedly spent on Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the nation’s major refineries without commensurate results.
Chairman, House Committee.on Petroleum (Downstream), Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere disclosed this during a press briefing held in Abuja, expressed concern over public outcry over the shutdown of Port Harcourt and Warri refineries few months after the facilities commenced production.
He also unveiled the Committee’s resolve to investigate the bottlenecks associated with obtaining crude by local and modular refineries, and why local refiners should travel to Switzerland to negotiate obtaining crude locally.
According to him, the House intend to find out what went wrong especially when considered against the backdrop that the company handling the turn around maintenance is a reputable company, adding that before considering whether or not the refineries should wither be sold or privatised, the House will find out what went wrong.
He said the House Committee has received several petitions on issues affecting the petroleum sector, adding that the Committee will find a permanent solution to the issue, especially when it has to do with providing stock for modular and other local refineries.
He said the House has also received several petitions from refinery owners, oil marketers and retailers on the bottleneck they are having, adding that they have complained about their huge investment which is likely to be affected by certain policies, especially the allegation of Dangote Refinery planned take-over of Petroleum Products transportation/retailing.
Hon. Ugochinyere said: “The outcome of the maintenance of the refinery, considering the amount of money that was spent, and then after the jubilation and celebration by Nigerians, including our dear president, we are happy to now hear again that there was a need to shorten a few weeks after operation and also confuse what we now had about sale being also considered.
“So the Committee agreed this morning to look into the state of the refinery to find out what happened, because public fund was paid, it’s a company, but the assets of the company still belongs to the Nigerian people, and they are asking us questions, and the Committee have received a series of petitions, which they have decided to handle.
“To find out the state of the refinery, the maintenance, The company involved was a company that was said to have reputable international history.
“Is it that they failed in the project, or is it something that we don’t know? So as a representative of the people, the committee resolved to look into the state of the refineries and find out what happened.
“Before we even talk about selling it, because we must find out what happened, because all of us celebrated when it started to work, and there are people who were responsible for oversighting it from the company at that moment, and they assured us that everything was going on very well. So we need to know what happened, and why is it not running, and why is sale undeterred.
“These are the issues, including also what is a sustainable way of having it. Do we need it? Do we need to reprivatize? Is there a need for partnership and so on and so forth? This is what the framework the subcommittee will draw up, and then we’ll take a decision, and then we’ll present it before Parliament.”
He said the stakeholders have complained that their investment in the country will be impacted negatively if the policy is allowed to subsist, adding that oil retailers have also complained about the likely take over of their business which has led to tension across the country.
Hon. Ugochinyere said the committee will reopen investigation into the acquisition of OVH and the complaints from NNPC Retail Staff, adding that the House had rejected the report of an earlier investigation into the matter and ordered the Committee to re-open the matter.
The House he said will look at ways of amending the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to address emerging issues not covered by the law, saying the committee intend to put together all such areas of amendment for the approval of the House with a view to strengthen NMDPRA/downstream petroleum sector.
He disclosed that the Committee resolved to dismiss the petition asking for the dissolution of the NMDPRA because the PIA confer the appointing powers on the President, adding that “we cannot go back to the old order where every government fires people anyhow.
“We are not out to protect anybody. If anybody is found to have been engaged in corrupt activities, the law should be allowed to take its course.”
He said the House Committee will also investigate issue of the incorporation of Artisanal Miners into the petroleum refining value chain, following complain that the experience not such persons will be eroded if they are excluded.
Another investigation by the committee, he said is the alleged abandonment of the Biomas Ethane project as well as allegation and counter allegation over the continued importation of fuel and protection of local refiners- legislative solutions.
He also announced that the House intend to himself the inaugural edition of annual Downstream Petroleum Week event begining from October 2, 2025.
He assured that the House will not allow any monopoly in the oil sector of the country, assuring that all the sub committees set up will fast-tracking the investigation of pending referrals to the Committee, address crucial matters and developments that have arisen, which threaten sustainability in the downstream sector, with a view to making the downstream sector stronger and more viable.