Reps move to dissolve NMDPRA, Dangote probe panel, reconstitute another 

The House of Representatives Monday announced its decision to dissolve and reconstitute the special joint committee investigating issues surrounding the alleged non-supply of crude oil to the Dangote refinery.

Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, had stired controversy by saying that products of the newly built Dangote refinery were of inferior standards to the ones imported.

It was an assertion management of the refinery and president of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, debunked.

The development prompted the House to mandate its Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) headed by Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Henry Okojei, to thoroughly investigate the issues and report its findings back to the House.

While the investigation lasts, there were perceived discordance within the House as a group of 50 members recently warned that the House should be wary of the preemptive call for the removal of the bosses of NMDPRA and that of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari.

In another turn of event, the House through its spokesman, Akin Rotimi Monday in a statement said “The Leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee.

“Initially tasked with investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues, this committee will be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.”