House of Representatives Demands Suspension of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority CEO Over Unproven Allegations

In a dramatic turn of events, the House of Representatives in Nigeria has called for the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, pending the conclusion of investigations into allegations against him. The decision was made following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Esosa Iyawe, a Labour Party lawmaker representing Esosa Federal Constituency in Edo State.

According to Iyawe, the allegations against Ahmed, which include claims of adulterated fuel in the Nigerian market, must be thoroughly investigated. He highlighted the risks associated with sulphur content in fuels, stating that high levels of sulphur can cause damage to engines and contribute to air pollution. The lawmaker emphasized that ultra-low sulphur diesel is recommended for various applications, including power plants, storage tanks, and industrial facilities, due to its positive impact on engine hardware.

However, Ahmed has been quoted as saying that the diesel produced by the Dangote Refinery is inferior to those imported into the country, with a sulphur content between 650 and 1,200 parts per million (ppm). Iyawe refuted these claims, stating that a test conducted by members of the House of Representatives revealed that Dangote’s diesel had a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, whereas the imported diesel samples had sulphur levels exceeding 1800 ppm and 2000 ppm, respectively.

The House of Representatives also condemned Ahmed’s statement, labeling it “careless” and “unpatriotic,” particularly in the face of recent calls for protest against the Federal Government. The joint committee of the House on Petroleum (Downstream and Midstream) has commenced investigations into the allegations against Dangote Refinery and is also conducting a legislative forensic investigation into “The presence of middlemen in crude trading and alleged unavailability of international standard laboratories to check adulterated products,” among others.

The development has sparked outrage among Nigerians, who have tagged Ahmed’s statement as an act of economic sabotage, given the health risks and financial losses associated with the use of high-sulphur content diesel. As the investigations continue, it remains to be seen whether Ahmed will be cleared of the allegations or face consequences for his actions.