Reps’ Committee Summons Sylva, Kyari Over State Of Nation’s Refineries
The Ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives has summoned both the Petroleum Minister, Timipre Sylva and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mele Kyari to appear before it on April 28 over the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.
The committee chairman, Johnson Oghuma issued the summons, noting that their absence at its investigative hearing over the state of the four refineries, has stalled proceedings.
“As Chairman of this Honourable Committee, I hereby summon the GMD of the NNPC, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the General Managers of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries to appear before the Committee on Thursday 28 April 2022”.
He threatened to invoke the full powers of the Parliament if they failed to honour the fresh invitation.
The Ad-hoc Committee is currently reviewing the $3.7 billion contracts for the rehabilitation of the four refineries over the past 10 years.
The Chairman frowned at the payment of the money to the contractors while the state of the refineries does not correspond with the records that say rehabilitation work had been completed on the four refineries.
“I am not comfortable about the information that the contracts have been awarded and jobs completed” says Oghuma who wondered why the refineries are not working when records say the contracts have been paid for and jobs completed.
A breakdown of the lawmakers’ records of the $3.7 billion paid so far, showed $1.5 billion was paid for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC) was awarded for the sum of $900 million; while Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (KRPC)) was awarded at the cost of $1.3 billion.
The chairman said the appraisal of the current state of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC); Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC) and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (KRPC) from 2012 to date vis a vis the annual budgets on their rehabilitation is worrisome.
The federal lawmakers last week approved a sum of N4 trillion for the executive to spend on fuel subsidy. The committee members noted such money could have served other areas of needs if the refineries are working.
“All these issues surround the importation of refined petroleum products. We have four refineries in the country and if contracts for their rehabilitation had been paid for and completed, then what stops the refineries from working. They need to come and explain to Nigerians”.
“As members of the National Assembly and representatives of the people, we have the constitutional duty to demand from those responsible; the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, the GMD of NNPC and the operators of the refineries to let us know the problems besetting our refineries so we can all proffer solutions for a sustained future and the benefit of all Nigerians”.
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