The theatre commander of the Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai, Maj Gen Waidi Shuaibu, has handed over the latest rescued Chibok girl, Ihyi Abdu, to the Borno State Government.
Speaking at the handover ceremony on Monday in Maiduguri, Shuaibu said her rescue brought to 19 the number of Chibok girls rescued through direct military operations.
“Today, we are gathered here to hand over another Chibok girl rescued during the course of military operations in Sambisa Forest. She was rescued by troops of Sector 1 of the theatre. The theatre will continue to do its best to rescue the remaining Chibok girls in captivity in line with the strategic guidance of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff,” Shuaibu said.
Giving details of the rescue, the acting General Officer Commanding, GOC, 7 Division, Maiduguri, Brig Gen A.G.L. Haruna, said the girl was rescued on June 23 with two children by troops during an operation within Sambisa Forest.
“She is now 27 years old, Kibaku by tribe and a Muslim by faith. She is serial number 67 on the list of abducted Chibok girls published by the Federal Government in 2014.
“While in captivity, she was forcefully married to one Abu Darda at Gwoza town in 2014. However, Darda who is an indigene of Plateau State, later relocated to Senegal and she later got married to other terrorists that were eventually neutralised by troops,” Haruna said.
Army hands over rescued pregnant Chibok girl to Borno State Govt
Army hands over rescued pregnant Chibok girl to Borno State Govt
NPA rakes in N541bn, remits N255bn in first half of 2024 — Outgoing MD Koko
Outgoing Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello Koko, on Monday disclosed that the agency generated N541 billion in the first half of 2024.
The agency equally remitted N255 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, CRF, within the first six months of the year, Koko further disclosed.
Koko, who made the disclosures in his valedictory remarks while handing over to the new NPA Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho at the organisation’s headquarters in Lagos, said the performance of the agency in the first half of 2024 surpassed its year-on-year total revenue generation and remittances in any year.
According to him, the cumulative revenue of the NPA between 2022 and the first half of 2024 was N1.423 trillion.
He also disclosed that he is handing over a new staff clinic and five other completed projects to his successor for commissioning.
Koko added that his administration put in place sustainable reforms, especially a drastic improvements in the Turn-Around-Times, TAT, of vessels and trucks in Apapa and TinCan ports.
Noting that staff salary was increased during his tenure, the outgoing MD urged staff of the agency to cooperate with and redouble their commitment to his successor.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Koko said, “We recorded an unprecedented growth in revenue generation and remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, CRF, from revenue of N381 billion in 2022 and N501 billion in 2023 to N541 billion in the first half of 2024 and remittances to CRF increasing from N93.4 billion in 2022 to N206 billion in 2023 and to N255 billion in the first half of 2024—surpassing our year-on-year total revenue generation and remittances in any year.
“Unprecedented tax remittances to the Federal Government ranging up to N60 billion in the period of my stewardship. We raised the bar higher.
“Our hope and prayers are for the new management to continue on this trajectory and surpass it. But we were also deliberate on dialogue and driving reforms.”
Noting that NPA achieved all-round port efficiency during his tenure, Koko added: “We hit the ground running with the necessary approvals to get the Lekki Deep Seaport fully operational to retake the lost transit and transshipment cargo.
“Promoted the non-oil export drive of the President by setting up ten (10) Export Processing Terminals, EPTs, mainstreaming it to the NXP and e-call up system to facilitate exports, and the result is evident in the attainment of a foreign trade surplus, as highlighted in the NBS report for Q1 2024.
“Upgraded Data Center, Servers, Storage, and Business Continuity. Established a data recovery and protection unit with an up-to-date data protection audit certification.
“Digitized staff attendance for accountability and improved productivity. Ensured the sustainability and free flow of cargo by clearing the decade-long traffic gridlock menacing the Apapa and Tincan Island port complexes, and its environs.
“Provided aids to navigation such as buoys, fenders, and bollards across all the ports, and also enhanced seaside operations by providing marine crafts, pilot cutters, tugboats, mooring boats, etc to improve port efficiency.
“These led to a reduction in both vessel and truck turn-around times. The vessel TAT went down from an average of 6.5 days to an average of 5 days, while truck TAT went from an average of 10 days to a few hours.”
Highlighting the agency’s attainment of 100 per cent Ease-of-Doing-Business rating by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, during his tenure, Koko said, “We restored service boat management contract with its attendant boost in revenue, concluded the consultancy for the deployment of a Vessel Tracking System in conjunction with NLNG Shipping, secured FEC approval for the expansion of the Snake Island Port and a willing private investment to the tune of $300 million on this project, and also secured FEC approvals for the development of new ports such as ports of Ondo, Badagry, Burutu, and Snake Island expansion project, amongst other proposals that have reached advanced stages of review and approval.”
He also pointed to the consultancy for the development of the 25-Year National Ports Masterplan to guide investment and port expansion plans, adding that the NPA attained 100 per cent Ease-of-Doing-Business rating by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council despite having the most number of reforms.
“In addition to the aforementioned, we were also able to conclude with the FMMBE/BPP on the deployment of the Port Community System (awaiting a few processes before seeking FEC approval), and its corollary, the National Single Window, as well as propel the subject matter of port modernization to conclusive stages with the signing of the mandate letters for the reconstruction of TinCan Island and the comprehensive rehabilitation of Apapa, Rivers, Onne, Warri, and Calabar Port complexes, respectively,” he noted.
Noting that six completed projects executed by his administration are ready for commissioning, Koko said, “We have also completed some key projects that are ready for commissioning. These projects are crucial to staff development and improved efficiency. Some of them include the Staff Clinic at Lagos Port Complex; inter-agency building at TinCan Island Port to accommodate agencies in the port in one place to enhance operational efficiency; security mobile scanners at the Lagos Port Complex; administrative buildings of the Tincan, Warri, and Rivers Ports; Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria’s Headquarters; upgraded Revenue Invoicing Management System (RIMS 2.0); and employees e-medical records management.”
Koko appreciated management and staff of the agency for the support accorded him during his sojourn in the establishment.
“Looking back, I would like to summarize this tremendous phase of my life as a learning curve and an abiding history or experience.
“As I bow out today, I feel fulfilled for two reasons. Firstly, by working with all of you here, we have repositioned the Authority for greater operational efficiency and unprecedented revenue generation and remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, CRF, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Secondly, my sense of fulfillment derives from the fact that we have achieved a lot and have made the Authority far better than we met it, and now handing over to a management team of distinguished professionals with the requisite character, competence, and capacity to sustain and indeed surpass the current performance trajectory.
“As most of us are aware, the Authority under the management team I was privileged to lead was able to position the Authority for improved efficiency, revenue generation, accountability, and adherence to international best practices in port management and operations.”
In the same vein, Koko thanked President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Delivering his inaugural address at the event, the new Managing Director of NPA, Dantsoho, unveiled plans for port rehabilitation and modernization. He also said priority will be given to total automation of NPA processes.
Assuring staff of adequate welfare, he said, “We will continue the digital transformation of the Authority and reinforce the current efforts at deploying the Port Community System, PCS, which we believe is key to our dream of total automation of our processes, thereby eliminating leakages and corruption.”
Assuring that the current efforts towards infrastructural renewal and development will be enhanced, he added, “In particular, we will drive Port Rehabilitation and Modernization. We will pay attention to the logistics that surround the arrival of cargoes along the port corridor, their receipt at the terminals and loading onboard ships in the most efficient way and also cargo evacuation from our ports.”
Other targets outlined by Dantsoho include development of deep sea ports, in order to unlock the full potential of the Nigerian economy, promotion of transparency, accountability and ease of doing business at the ports, enhancing collaboration and communication between sister agencies and promoting stakeholder engagement.
NPA rakes in N541bn, remits N255bn in first half of 2024 — Outgoing MD Koko
Agbakoba warns NNPC against taking over Dangote refinery
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, has warned the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited not to take over the Dangote Refinery.
Agbakoba was reacting to a comment by the businessman that the NNPC should buy the refinery if that would put an end to calling him a monopolist.
Dangote made the comment amid the controversies surrounding his 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, had said Dangote and other local refineries have been producing inferior fuels.
Ahmed said, “We cannot rely heavily on one refinery to feed the nation, because Dangote is requesting that we should suspend or stop importation of all petroleum products, especially AGO and direct all marketers to the refinery. That is not good for the nation in terms of energy security. That is not good for the market, because of monopoly.”
Baffled by Ahmed’s comment, Dangote said he would be ready to hand over the refinery to the government.
“Let them (NNPCL) buy me out and run the refinery the best way they can. They have labelled me a monopolist. That’s an incorrect and unfair allegation, but it’s okay. If they buy me out, at least, their so-called monopolist would be out of the way,” Dangote said.
However, in a short statement on Monday, Agbakoba disagreed asking, “Why take over what a private individual built? Why can’t the Federal Government fix its refineries all these years?”
Agbakoba stated that there is no reason to allow an efficient businessman to ‘hold the country to ransom’ as being speculated when there is a simple alternative.
According to the legal luminary, Nigeria needs to fix the refineries and make Nigeria work by providing electricity, potable water, good healthcare, quality education, good roads and food.
“The simple alternative for us all is this – Let Nigeria work. Let there be light. Let there be food. Let there be water. Let there be jobs. Let there be money, schools, healthcare, roads and others,” he stressed.
This, he said, is the way to end the so-called Dangote monopoly “and not as suggested by taking over another man’s sweat.”
He added, “Let the Federal Government fix its own refineries. If all our refineries are working, there won’t be anything called a Dangote Refinery monopoly.”
Agbakoba declared that he is in support of Dangote and all other local refineries, saying they would boost the nation’s refining capacity and end fuel importation.
Recall that Agbakoba had recently asked President Bola Tinubu to overhaul the country’s energy sector and the regulatory framework.
Lokpobiri meets with Dangote, NMDPRA boss, Kyari over fuel dispute
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to resolve the ongoing issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery.
The meeting, held on Monday, brought together Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari.
This was contained in a statement released on Monday by Lokpobiri’s Special Adviser Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor.
“The meeting focused on finding a sustainable and lasting solution to the current impasse affecting the Dangote Refinery, with all parties demonstrating a commitment to collaborative and proactive problem-solving.
“The Honourable Minister emphasised the importance of cooperation and synergy among all stakeholders to ensure the success and optimal performance of the Oil and Gas sector, which is pivotal for Nigeria’s economic growth and energy security,” the statement read.
Dangote had on Sunday offered to sell his stake in the Dangote Refinery to the NNPC amid accusations of monopoly in the industry.
Dangote made the offer in an exclusive interview with Premium Times.
This came after the chief executive of NMDPRA made claims that Dangote had requested the regulator to stop giving import licences to other marketers to be the only fuel supplier in Nigeria.
“We cannot rely heavily on one refinery to feed the nation, because Dangote is requesting that we should suspend or stop importation of all petroleum products, especially AGO and direct all marketers to the refinery, that is not good for the nation in terms of energy security. And that is not good for the market, because of monopoly,” Ahmed disclosed in a video interview with State House correspondents.
‘People in NNPC don’t want subsidy scam to end’- Emir Sanusi
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said that Alhaji Aliko Dangote should not be blamed for buying dollars at lower rates at the time he was building his refinery because that was the actual rate the apex bank was selling to everybody at that time.
Sanusi, who commented on the issue through SOP Chat Group, initially said: “I honestly do not think it is a good idea for me to make comments on these issues, but some comments surprise me, and I just have to say something.”
The emir then went on to remark: “Aliko Dangote did not fix the price at which the CBN sold dollars. Everyone who got dollars from the CBN got dollars at the same rate if they bought on the same day. So we cannot blame him for buying dollars at a rate the CBN itself decided to sell to its customers.
“So the question for me is this. Let us forget the man Dangote. If the Central Bank were to prioritize a single enterprise for forex allocation, how many enterprises can we think of that are worthier than a refinery like this one?
“Consider the drain on our forex from importing petroleum products; the tens of billions of dollars of forex spent abroad; the huge losses due to theft in the name of subsidy.
“By the way, how much forex did Dangote buy from the CBN at this subsidized rate? How much forex did NNPC take from the federation account in the same year in the name of running and turning around its dead refineries? What are we benchmarking against?
“If any Nigerian came to me as a Central Bank Governor with a project like this refinery, I would recognize immediately its potential impact on the economy and give it all the support needed.
“Let our views on forex policies not becloud our sense of priorities. Once the CBN decided to sell dollars at the below market, it would be forced to ration the limited dollars available.”
“To my mind, giving dollars for the construction of a refinery is better than rice importers and, indeed, almost every other enterprise apart from education and health, given the impact on the macro.”
On the argument by NNPC that relying on one refinery is bad for our energy security, Muhammadu Sanusi II said: “This is most laughable. On the contrary, relying on a local refinery is far more secure than these imports.
“It is a very rich argument from an entity that had taken billions of dollars in the name of turnaround maintenance and not produced a drop of product from four refineries because it is more profitable to continue extracting rent in the name of subsidy. If NNPC activated its refineries, there would be no monopoly. Then, we can see the sulphur content of its products and compare them to Dangote’s.”
He said further: “Until then, keeping quiet is the honourable option for it, NNPC and its spinoffs have lost any right to talk until they fix the mess they have thrown us into.
“In any case, if the Dangote refinery is unable to meet local demand, the gap can be filled by imports, these people in NNPC do not want to end their lucrative subsidy scam, and I don’t think they will end it.
” But as a nation, if we do not thank Dangote for what he has done as an African to deal a hammer blow to multinationals and the rentier system and for structural change in this economy through value added in various sectors, we should not condemn him.
“Also, we tend to repeat stories without evidence. We hear about Dangote getting favourable taxation but no one has said what this tax is, if he got it alone or if it was offered to a sector or to pioneers, and if such a practice is in fact normal to encourage investment.”
The emir concluded thus: “Instead of killing Dangote, we should try and make more like him. Nigeria always kills its heroes and its best because of envy and pettiness.”
‘People in NNPC don’t want subsidy scam to end’- Emir Sanusi
OGSIEC debunks LG elections notice
The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, on Monday, debunked the notice of the next local government elections scheduled to be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
The purported statement was said to have been signed by the Chairman of OGSIEC, Babatunde Osibodu, dated Wednesday, July 24, and flooded social media on Sunday.
The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Mr Kayode Akinmade, has, however, told our correspondent that the statement was fake news and should be disregarded by the residents of the state.
Responding, Osibodu said on Monday that the statement had never originated from the agency.
The statement partly reads, “Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has become aware of an unsigned document circulating on social media purporting to be a Notice of Election and timetable for the 2024 Local Government Elections for chairmanship and councillorship positions in the state.
“The commission wishes to inform all relevant stakeholders and the general public that this information is false and did not originate from OGSIEC and should, therefore, be disregarded.
“All necessary notices and other information concerning the 2024 Local Government Elections will be provided by the Commission in due course and will be duly signed by the chairman of the commission or other authorised signatories.”
The present elected local government officials in the state were elected on July 24, 2021, sworn in on July 26, 2021, and will be completing their three-year tenure by Friday, July 26.
The recent Supreme Court judgment barred the usual practice of appointing a caretaker committee by the state governors to run the affairs of the local government.
The apex court has equally insisted on having a democratically elected government at the local government and that a local government without a democratically elected government won’t be able to have access to the monthly allocation from the Federal Government.
NGX: Equities market begin week on positive note, investors gain N16bn
The equities market began the week on a positive note on Monday, July 22, 2024 as investors gained N16bn at the end of trading session.
This follows an increase in the share prices of stocks like TANTALIZER, LIVESTOCK and NEIMETH amongst others on the trading floor.
After five hours of trading at the capital market, the equity capitalization increased to N56.945 trillion from N56.929 trillion posted by the bourse on Friday, July 19, 2024.
The All-Share Index (ASI) increased to 100,568.60 from 100,539.40 recorded the previous trading day.
The market breadth was positive as 22 stocks advanced and 14 stocks declined, while 80 stocks remained unchanged in 8,760 deals.
READ ALSO: Investors lose N113bn amid suspension of stocks by NGX
TANTALIZER, LIVESTOCK and NEIMETH led other gainers with 8.89%, 8.18% and 8.05% growth in share price each to close at 0.49, N2.38, and N1.88 from the previous prices of N0.45, N2.20, and N1.74 per share.
On the flip side, CAVERTON, ROYALEX and VERITASKAP led other price decliners as they shed 9.68%, 6.94%, and 4.72% each to close at N1.40, N0.67, and N1.01 from the initial prices of N1.55, N0.72, and N1.06 per share.
On the volume index, ELLAHLAKES led trading with 110m shares valued at N332mn in 53 deals followed by UNIVINSURE which traded 21m shares in 46 deals valued at N7mn.
UCAP traded 20m shares valued at N778mn in 984 deals.
On the value index UCAP recorded the highest value for the day trading stocks worth N778mn in 984 deals followed by ZENITHBANK which traded equities worth N337mn in 389 deals.
GTCO traded stocks worth N368mn in 544 deals.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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Rivers ex-commissioner threatens legal action against govt blackmailers
A former Commissioner of Urban Development and Physical Planning in Rivers State, Dr. Reason Onya, has threatened to take legal action against those allegedly spreading false information and blackmailing the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie.
Onya issued the threat in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, while reacting to recent allegations that Edison is part of a PRO Democratic group sponsoring the looming national wide protest scheduled to hold on 29 July, 2024.
Onya, who is also a Senior Lecturer at the Rivers state University, claimed that the perpetrators aim to de-market the chief of staff and Rivers state government before the federal government of Nigeria, in order to justify their call for a state of emergency in the state.
“He said, “The accusations are not pleasant on my own part, nor on my people, because there has been a consistent approach to him, again and again.
“They have been applying the concept of escapism theory trying to ensure that Ehie is always blackmailed. In a nutshell they have perpetually come up with anti-Semitism on Ehie and the Governor of Rivers state Siminalayi Fubara, to project them as a scapegoat to the authorities they are answerable to.
“Ensuring they are being blackmailed in a way the public and the federal government of Nigeria sees Edison Ehie and Governor of Rivers state as not being the good people they portray themselves to be.
“They want to make sure the federal government is totally against them and that is why at a given period these same people talked about State of emergency in Rivers State, at a certain period they go into one act or the other just to ensure the good Governor of Rivers State and Ehie is been dragged into the mud.”
He, however, called on President Bola Tinubu and well meaning Nigerians to disregard what he described as concocted lies leveled against Edison Ehie and the good Government of Rivers state.
“I know the President is a democrat who has gone beyond all these antics. I strongly believe that he would not acknowledge any of these approaches being applied by these actors to deprive Rivers state from getting its benefits.
“Edison would not have said they should go and protest against Tinubu, Edison being said to be holding a meeting with a PRO-Democratic group, means the Rivers State Government is sponsoring him to do that. What is the formation derived from that.
“You see the whole thing is channeled towards declaring Rivers state as a state of emergency.
“The good people of Rivers state should not listen to that and I believe also the generality of Nigeria will not buy into their mischievous act of blackmail approaches,” Onya said.
Onana moves to Aston Villa in £50m deal
English Premier League club Aston Villa have acquired midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton in a £50 million deal.
The 22-year-old, who played every minute of Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign, will now have the chance to compete in the Champions League with Villa this season.
Onana originally joined Everton from Lille for £33 million in 2022, making 72 appearances and scoring four goals for the Toffees.
Read Also: Emery signs deal to stay with Aston Villa until 2029
“I’ll be playing in the Champions League again and that’s very exciting,” said Onana.
“We also have a manager that’s one of the best in the business and I think he can take my game to the next level.”
Onana added that Villa midfielder and Belgium team-mate Youri Tielemans helped convince him to join the Midlands club.
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Substandard petroleum products claim: Reps panel places gag order on Dangote, NMDPRA, others, launches probe
The House of Representatives joint committee on petroleum resources (downstream and midstream) has placed a gag order on Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other stakeholders.
The gag order prevents the relevant parties from further commenting on the ongoing accusations and counter accusations flying around regarding the quality of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery and the allegation of monopoly levelled against the company.
On July 18, Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer of NMDPRA had said local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, were producing inferior products compared to the ones imported into the country.
The oil regulator also accused Dangote of monopoly.
Aliko Dangote, CEO of the Dangote Group while conducting the leadership of the House of Representatives around the 650,000bpd refinery over the weekend, denied both claims.
Consequently, on Monday, Ikenga Ugochinyere, chair of petroleum resources downstream committee at the inaugural sitting of the committee said a “thorough and transparent” probe would be carried out on the claims, including detailed laboratory investigations at all local refineries, marketers and importers facilities, and regulatory agencies
He also directed all parties to desist from further commenting on the issue.
He disclosed that the committee resolved that parties in the raging argument — Dangote refinery, other refining companies, NMDPRA, marketers and relevant stakeholders — “should henceforth cease further allegations and counter-allegations pending the conclusion and outcome of the investigation”.
Ugochinyere said the committee would further investigate the “indiscriminate” issuance of licences and importation of refined petroleum products, return of PMS price intervention, allegation of product unavailability to marketers from NNPC retail, and endless shifting of timelines for refinery rehabilitation and the nefarious activities at petrol depots.
“The committee will also conduct a legislative forensic investigation into the presence of middlemen in crude trading, alleged unavailability of international standard laboratories to check adulterated products, influx of contaminated products into the country, the allegation of non-domestication of profits realized from crude marketing sales in local banks, abuse of the PFI regime, importation of products already being produced in Nigeria and use of international trading companies to resell fuel stock to local refineries at high mark up prices,” Ugochinyere said.
“The two committees were also mandated to carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the allegation of importation of substandard products and high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, the alleged production of substandard diesel and other petroleum products by some domestic producers.”
He said the panels will also probe the alleged anomalies in the importation and distribution of PMS by the state oil company, the economic viability of the alleged sale of petroleum products below fair market value and its impact on downstream and local refineries and revenue generation as well as the source of funds for such price interventions, quantity imported, the amount spent and why the products are still high in the retailing market.
In addition, the lawmaker said the committee will investigate the alleged failure of some of the regulators to enforce compliance on standards, the lack of support to local crude refiners, and the issuance of import licences, despite local production.
“Following the investigative order given to the committee by the 10th people’s house, today we are going to officially commence the comprehensive forensic legislative investigation into several critical issues that threaten the stability and trust in our petroleum industry,” he said.
The lawmaker said the probe will start with addressing allegations concerning the importation of substandard petroleum products and the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries, which has raised serious concerns about the quality and safety of fuel in our market.
He said the panel will take a closer look at the integrity of the testing processes for petroleum products in the country, particularly focusing on the capacity and credibility of all the testing labs of all stakeholders in the downstream and midstream value chain, local middlemen and the laboratories they employ.
Ugochinyere said to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation, the committee would undertake detailed laboratory investigations at all local refineries, marketers’ and importers’ facilities, regulatory agencies, state oil companies, and other players in the sector.
“We will visit various filling stations, depots, and tank farms to take samples in line with international standards, verify the quality of imported products and asses the testing capacities of all refineries and all refined product handling outfits,” he said.
“The collection of samples will be done transparently and in line with global best practices and would be in four specimens for independent testing in a different standard, accredited Laboratory including that of all stakeholders involved in refining and importation of refined petroleum products.
“The committee will select different locations, including filling stations, depots and even currently discharging ships. Samples shall be taken in the presence of representatives of NMDPRA, refinery representatives, marketers/importers and the committee.
“After collection, the samples will be tested jointly and also independently by the committee and the stakeholders to ascertain the contents. Component to be tested for as listed as follows: sulfur content, density, distillation, flash point, octane number for gasoline and cetane number for diesel.”
Ugochinyere said zonal interaction committees would be set up to ensure “swift movement” to different parts of the country to interact with stakeholders and take samples from stakeholders’ facilities for immediate laboratory analysis.
He said invitations would be dispatched on Monday (today) for submissions of relevant documents and appearances to key stakeholders, regulatory bodies, state oil companies, petroleum products refining companies, IPMAN, PETROAN, independent oil producers, IOCs, importers, marketers, depot owners and other stakeholders too numerous to mention.
“We are committed to transparency, thoroughness, and accountability throughout this process that will help us to identify and resolve the underlying issues plaguing Nigeria’s petroleum sector,” Ugochinyere said.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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