The House of Representatives Joint Committee of the Downstream and Midstream has stated its readiness to probe the allegation of importation of substandard petroleum products into the country.
Chairman of the joint committee, who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere gave the indication Thursday evening at the opening ceremony of a three-day retreat for the House Committees on Downstream and Midstream in Port Harcourt.
Delivering his welcome address on the retreat which has as the theme “Enhancing Regulatory Frameworks, Promoting Transparency and Fostering Sustainable Development in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector, Ugochinyere said the joint committee would be transparent in carrying out the investigation.
He said: “As the lead Chairman of the House of Representatives Joint Investigative Committee on the challenges affecting the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Sector in the country, I want to reiterate our commitment to transparency and accountability.
“Our ongoing forensic legislative investigation into the anomalies within the oil and gas sector is crucial for restoring trust and ensuring the integrity of our industry.
“We are addressing allegations concerning the importation of substandard petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries, and various other critical issues that threaten the stability and security of our petroleum sector.”
Similarly, Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Henry Odianosen Okojie, in his address said the committees would remain committed to addressing the rot in the oil and gas sector.
“As we embark on this journey, let us remain committed to the principles of transparency and accountability.
“Our ongoing investigation into the anomalies in the oil and gas sector led by Hon. (Barr.) Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere is a testament to our dedication to rooting out corruption and inefficiency”, Okojie stated.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas who declared the retreat open said the House was working deliberately to create more business-friendly environment through legislative reforms that streamline the process and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Abbas, who was represented by Soli Sada, said the retreat is to offer the lawmakers another opportunity to evaluate and implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) “in promoting transparency, accountability, economic recovery, transformation and growth of the oil sector, as well as the key roles of the players in the industry.
“We can recall that it was barely a week ago, that your committees on oil and gas, leadership of the House had a tour with the Dangote Refinery in Lagos.
“The purpose of that visit was to provide House leadership and your committees with an indebt understanding and nature, scope and activities of Dangote Refinery; an initiative that tallies with our legislative agenda which is to support the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on the economy transformation, growth and development.
The theme of the retreat is, Enhancing Regulatory Frameworks, Promoting Transparency and Fostering Sustainable Development in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chairman of the Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Francis Dimkpa appealed to the members of the House of Representatives to discuss issues of concern in the nation’s oil and gas industry with purpose of rendering solutions.
He urged the house to address the issues duplication of regulatory agencies in the sector and ensure the reduction of the “high regulatory fees to operators”.
“We are tired of receiving poorly refined petroleum products”, Dimkpa stressed.
