SENATE REJECTS NMDPRA’S PETROL IMPORT FIGURES, SUMMONS NNPC, NEITI HEADS
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By aishat Momoh. O.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has rejected petrol importation figures presented by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for 2022 and 2023 over discrepancies with records submitted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
The committee described the differences as unacceptable and suspicious, resolving to summon the heads of NMDPRA, NNPC and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) to a joint meeting to reconcile the figures.
The discrepancies emerged during a hearing on queries raised in the NEITI Oil and Gas Industry Audit Report covering 2021 to 2023.
Responding on behalf of the NMDPRA Authority Chief Executive, Deputy Director Uzoamaka Ugwu-Ojobe defended the agency’s records, stating that 3.29 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, were imported in 2022 and 6.02 billion litres in 2023.
However, the figures differed significantly from those presented by NNPC, which recorded 6.27 billion litres in 2022 and 3.88 billion litres in 2023.
Ugwu-Ojobe reportedly described the discrepancies as slight, adding that reconciliation was ongoing. Her explanation, however, failed to satisfy committee members, who called for a more thorough examination of the figures.
Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, faulted the description of the differences as slight, arguing that a discrepancy exceeding 50 per cent was disturbing and suspicious.
Similarly, Senator Dayo Faduyile, representing Ondo South, said the figures raised concerns about possible foul play.
Senator Anietie Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East, also called for a comprehensive investigation, warning that the discrepancies must be resolved to prevent Nigerians from being shortchanged.
The committee’s chairman, Senator Hassan Dankwabo, representing Gombe North, said the explanation offered by the NMDPRA representative was unacceptable.
He subsequently announced plans to summon the heads of NMDPRA, NNPC and NEITI for a tripartite meeting to reconcile the records and determine the reasons for the discrepancies, including whether any wrongdoing occurred.
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