**NNPCL, NMDPRA, and Stakeholders Deny Economic Sabotage Allegations, Call for Transparent Senate Hearing**
In a recent Senate hearing, key stakeholders in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and others, strongly denied involvement in economic sabotage. The denial came amid an ongoing investigation into alleged sabotage within the sector.
**Key Points from the Hearing:**
– **Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri**, emphasized that misinformation has surrounded the role of his ministry and other agencies. He called for the planned public hearing to be televised live to provide transparency.
– **Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL**, defended the company’s integrity, asserting that NNPCL, owned by over 200 million Nigerians, is committed to maximizing value and is not involved in sabotage. He highlighted the company’s improved performance and commitment to national growth.
Engineer Farouk Ahmed, CEO of NMDPRA, supported the call for a live broadcast of the hearing, asserting that it would allow for a fair presentation of facts and counter negative narratives about the agency’s regulatory functions.
Dangote Refinery’s Group Chief Strategy Officer, Aliyu Sulaiman, acknowledged the significant supply of crude oil from NNPCL and called for support to help the refinery grow, rather than being subjected to undue criticism.
Abdulkabir Adisa Aliyu, National Chairman of the Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN), criticized Dangote Refinery for its dominance in the sugar market and warned against monopolistic practices in the petroleum sector.
Alhaji Abubakar Shettima, National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), urged the committee to avoid monopolies and improve product supply to retail outlets to address fuel shortages.
Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, clarified that the investigation aims to uncover those involved in sabotaging the petroleum sector, not to witch-hunt individuals or groups. He also highlighted concerns over the importation of substandard petroleum products and the inefficacy of government-owned refineries.
The Senate’s Ad Hoc Committee plans to conduct a public hearing from September 10 to 12, 2024, in conjunction with the House of Representatives, to address these issues transparently.
