The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to “urgently” carry out holistic dredging of petroleum‑product shipping channels along Nigeria’s coastlines, citing the high cost of transporting energy products to various parts of the country. The House also mandated its Committees on Ports and Harbours and Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to ensure compliance with the resolution and to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
The resolution follows the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Representative Sergius Ogun at Tuesday’s plenary, titled “Need to Reduce the Cost of Transporting Petroleum Products by Dredging the Petroleum Products Shipping Channel in Nigerian Coastlines.” In presenting the motion, Ogun referenced Section 16(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which obliges the state to control the national economy to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen based on social justice and equality of status and opportunity.
Ogun warned that the federal government’s plan to remove certain cost line items from the existing Petroleum Marketing Spirit (PMS) pricing template would inevitably increase the cost of petroleum products. He identified poor or inadequate dredging of shipping channels along the coastline as a key factor driving up the price of petroleum products for Nigerians.
Citing Section 7 of the Nigerian Ports Authority Act, Ogun emphasized that the NPA is responsible for the efficient management of port operations and the maintenance of all ports and territorial waters. The Act also requires the Authority to provide facilities for berthing, towing and moving ships entering or leaving ports or their approaches.
“The House is concerned that if the government proceeds with its plans to remove some cost line items on the existing PMS pricing template, petroleum product marketers will have no choice but to increase prices, resulting in a hike in petroleum product costs and further hardship for Nigerians,” Ogun concluded.
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