The House of Representatives on Thursday tasked Federal Government to mandate authorities of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Dangote Refinery to allow independent marketers to lift premium motor spirit (PMS) from the Dangote Refinery.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion of Urgent Public Importance on the urgent sponsored by Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, who solicited for the House intervention.
In his lead debate, Hon. Oforji observed that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery began operation in its 650, barrels per day (BPD) integrated refinery on the 15th of September 2024, having the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) as the sole off taker.
“However recently, the Major Marketers have been given access to lift the product by the NNPC.
“We must commend the Dangote Group and congratulate Nigerians as this is no mean feat considering the fact that our country has been battling for decades with refining our crude without success.
“The House also note that by this feat, Nigeria is driving towards energy self-sufficiency, cost and foreign exchange savings, meeting the increasing demand for fuels, attraction of foreign capital investment, generation of Forex through export of finished product, conservation of foreign exchange and huge value addition that will contribute to increase in Nigeria Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The House further note that in view of the high demand by millions of Nigerians for PMS, and the ordeal they go through to get it, NNPC should allow independent marketers to lift the product from the Dangote refinery.
“The House is cognizant that allowing Independent Marketers, Major Marketers, along with NNPC to lift from the Dangote Refinery will lead to competition, availability of the product, hence reduction in the price of PMS.
“The House is worried that NNPC and the Major Marketers as exclusive off takers, spells monopoly which is tantamount to greed. This is the same NNPC that has failed to manage our crude and refineries for decades in the past.
“No wonder the late MKO Abiola of blessed memory, in a viral video, some years ago lamented that the NNPC lacks transparency and accountability.
“The House is disturbed that allowing the NNPC and Major Marketers to lift PMS from the refinery to the exclusion of Independent Marketers, is not good enough.
“The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria’s (IPMAN) representatives has expressed fears that it may be forced to resort to fuel imports to sustain their businesses.
“If this monopoly is not nipped in the bud, suffering of Nigerians occasioned by the scarcity of PMS will continue and we all know the implication on the economy,” he noted.
In the bid to address the concerns, the House urged management of the Dangote Refinery to build, acquire or partner to get Tank Farms or depot across the geo-political zones in the country, to ease the accessibility of petroleum products to the people.
In line with the principles of accountability and transparency, the House mandated Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to reveal the price it sells crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and also mandate the Dangote Refinery to reveal the price it sells PMS to the NNPC.
To this end, the House mandated its joint Committees on Petroleum Resources (Midstream and Downstream) to ensure compliance.
SOURCE: tribuneonlineng.com