Senate raises alarm over influx of substandard petrol

The Senate has raised an alarm over the influx of substandard Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), or diesel, into the Nigerian market.
The issue came up on Wednesday as a matter of urgent national importance in which Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong referred to a June 16, 2024, report which revealed that 12 diesel cargoes, totaling 660 kilotons, were exported by refineries to offshore Lome, Togo, for further distribution to West African markets, primarily Nigeria.
He said the quality of the diesel in question did not meet Nigerian standards regarding flash and sulfur levels.
Senator Ekpeyong also hinted that despite a recent move by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) towards revising diesel importation standards in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, it has been unable to enforce compliance with these standards.
The Senate established an ad-hoc committee to investigate the ongoing importation of hazardous petroleum products and the dumping of substandard diesel into Nigeria.
Senator Ekpeyong expressed displeasure at the NMDPRA’s continued issuance of import licenses for diesel and jet fuel despite sufficient local production capacity.
The lawmakers Expressed anger over what they termed “sabotage” and a clear failure of the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act, insisting that those found culpable in the illicit act should face the full force of the law.
Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, echoed the sentiments of his colleagues, suggesting that the issues raised within the PIA should be reviewed, not as a witch-hunt, but to clarify and correct the record.
The ad-hoc committee, chaired by the Senate leader, has been given three weeks to report back to the Red Chamber.
Writing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade