The House of Representatives on Thursday directed Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to stop forthwith, ongoing plans to expend $1.8 billion on the turn around maintenance (TAM) on Nigeria’s four refineries.
Garba Datti, Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee investigating the state of the nation’s four refineries, their turn around maintenance and regular/modular licensed refineries, issued the directive during a media briefing held at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.
The Ad-hoc Committee which was set up via Resolution No. HR.173/2017, was mandated to ascertain the viability of continuing investments of public funds on the nation’s four refineries and allocation of 445,000bpd crude utilisation for the same purpose.
The committee is also expected to determine the current utilisation level of the Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries; carry out a comprehensive investigation on TAM carried out to date on the refineries; identify the private and corporate individuals that have refused to utilise the licences (regular and modular), the readiness and status of all current holders.
Datti, who noted that the investigation has commenced, expressed concern over the ongoing move to spend about $1.8 billion on the four refineries which failed to yield positive result over the years.
“The Committee has commenced action on the matter and its attention has been drawn on the NNPC’s intention to spend about $1.8 billion on the TAM of the said four refineries.
“The Committee has communicated to the Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation requesting them to stay action pending the outcome of the Committee’s investigation on the matter.
“We therefore, wish to seize this opportunity to seek full cooperation of the stakeholders and the general public in the course of the exercise.
“The Committee also pleads with Nigerians to be patient with its activities as it intends to proffer amicable solutions with respect to the epileptic operations of the four refineries, as well as the perennial scarcity of the petroleum products in the country.
“The Committee will continue to solicit your cooperation and support with a view to achieving the set objectives,” Datti urged.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
