Mohammed Shosanya
The House of Representatives,has ordered the immediate probe of international oil companies (IOCs) for allegedly sabotaging the operations of Dangote refinery.
Adopting a motion on Thursday, under matters of urgent National imports sponsored by Hon Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) during plenary in Abuja, the House also ordered the determination of the actual percentage holding of the Federal Government in Dangote refinery.
The House also resolved to investigate matters of the inability of NNPC Limited to subscribe for the 20% shares in Dangote Refinery and the lack of supply of crude oil to Dangote Refinery.
In its resolution,the House also urged the Federal Government, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ( NUPRC), the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Agency (NMDRA), key stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to support Dangote Refinery to succeed.
The House also urged the Minister of Petroleum Resources, and all relevant MDAs to immediately take urgent steps and intervene in the matter of crude oil supply to Dangote Refinery.
Moving the motion which was titled “Need to investigate alleged conspiracy by international oil companies (IOCs) to frustrate the operations and survival of Dangote refinery and the actual percentage holding of the federal government in Dangote refinery,” Chinda noted the successful completion and coming into full operations of Dangote oil Refinery and Petrochemicals.
He also noted that Nigeria as a major oil producing and exporting Country for several years have continued to import refined petroleum products from other countries, to the detriment of the economic well-being of the country.
The lawmaker further noted that Dangote Refinery,with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) is said to be Africa’s largest refinery, and the World’s 7th largest by capacity, and its construction was meant to alleviate the petroleum products needs and accompanying pains faced by Nigerians.
“Recently, the management of Dangote Refinery accused International oil companies (IOCs) operating in the country of conspiracy, and an attempt to frustrate the smooth operations of the refinery. Also aware that the alleged conspiracy against Dangote Refinery relates to efforts by the IOCs to deliberately frustrate the refinery’ to buy local crude oil by manipulating and jerking up the premium price above the market price, thus forcing the refinery to reduce output, as well as import oil at exorbitant cost from other countries.
He further explained that according to the management of Dangote Refinery, while the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) was trying its best to allocate crude to Dangote Refinery, the IOCs were deliberately frustrating Dangote Refinery’s effort to buy the local crude.
He also said that the management of Dangote Refinery had alleged that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) was still granting import licenses, indiscriminately, to marketers to import sub-standard refined petroleum products into the country.
He,however,expressed concerns that whilst the IOCs are keen on exporting raw materials to their home countries and thus creating wealth and employment for their countries, thereby adding to their GDP, Nigeria continues to be a dumping ground for the refined products, thus making citizens dependent on imported petroleum products.
“The IOCs strategy/plan is capable of making Nigeria face higher rate of unemployment and poverty. There is an urgent need for the Federal Government, relevant MDAs, including the NUPRC and the MDPRA, key stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to support Dangote Refinery to succeed.
“Further worried that whilst the Federal Government of Nigeria subscribed 20% shares in Dangote Refinery, the Chairman (Aliko Dangote) claimed that Nigeria was unable to redeem its obligation and now owns 7.2% through NNPC LTD.
“There is an urgent need to look into these allegations by Dangote Refinery and end/break all forms of dominance and monopoly of the petroleum sector by the IOCs and confirm the quantum of Federal government interest in the refinery”.
He also explained that unless urgent steps are taken by the Federal government, as well as investigate the matter and call the IOCs to order, Dangote Refinery and its operations would be prematurely pushed/forced out of business and this would not be good for the people, adding that NNPC LTD is said to be unable to subscribe for the 20% shares.