Senate Postpones Public Hearing on Alleged Petroleum Industry Sabotage
The Nigerian Senate has postponed a public hearing scheduled for September 10-12, 2024, to investigate alleged sabotage in the petroleum industry. The decision was made after consulting with stakeholders and considering the need for further due diligence in the conduct of the investigative hearing.
The public hearing was originally scheduled to take place in September and was expected to feature key stakeholders, including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Ports Authority, among others.
The Senate Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, led by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, cited legislative exigencies and the need for wider consultations with stakeholders as reasons for the postponement.
In a statement, Bamidele assured stakeholders that a new date for the public hearing would be communicated to them in due course. The committee’s goal is to investigate billions spent on maintaining the nation’s refineries, regulatory agencies’ overpayment to transporters, and the alleged importation of hazardous petroleum products and dumping of substandard diesel into the country.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has appealed to the Federal Government to reverse the recent increment in the price of petrol. The union described the increase as an "assault on workers’ wellbeing and a breach of contract."
The Federal Government hiked petrol prices last week, with independent fuel stations adjusting and dispensing the commodity between N1000 and N1200 per litre. The Kwara State capital, Ilorin, saw a litre of fuel dispensed at N1000.
Reacting to the price hike, the NLC chairman, Muritala Olayinka, urged citizens to remain calm and steadfast, while calling on the government to review and revert economic policies that are not labour-friendly and anti-people.
The NLC’s appeal comes as Nigerians continue to grapple with economic hardship, which has been exacerbated by economic policies. The union’s statement highlighted the need for a national debate or dialogue on the direction towards the living standards of workers and Nigerian people.
The postponement of the public hearing is seen as a positive step towards ensuring a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the alleged sabotage in the petroleum industry. The Senate’s commitment to transparency and due diligence is commendable, and it is hoped that the new date for the public hearing will be communicated soon.
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