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Reps Investigates Alleged Importation Of Adulterated Petrol, Price Hike, Others

Published

4 months ago

July 22, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has commenced investigation of importation of adulterated petroleum products into the country, difficulties of domestic refineries in accessing crude oil feedstock and broader threats those issues pose to Nigeria’s energy security.

Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen at the inauguration of the Joint Committee on Petroleum Upstream and Downstream on Monday in Abuja, expressed concern over the resurgence of fuel queues at petrol stations, increasing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and unavailability of crude oil feedstock for downstream domestic refineries.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that the House of Representatives had at plenary on July 9th 2024 , adopted a motion on, “Urgent need to carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the challenges affecting the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors in Nigeria and other related matters to find out a lasting solution to all challenges”.

The House had subsequently mandated the Committees on Petroleum Resources Midstream and Downstream to “Carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the resurgence of fuel queues in petrol stations, allegations of high cost of PMS, unavailability of fuel stock for downstream domestic refineries, disruption of distribution of PMS products, unfair subsidization of PMS and other petroleum products, racketeering and favouritism in the Pro Forma Invoice System regime.” etc

Represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Speaker Abbas said the investigation will also extend to other related issues impacting the sector; adding that the quality of petroleum products imported into Nigeria has come under scrutiny, and authorities must ensure compliance with global standards.

The Speaker insisted that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) must guarantee that all petrol imported into the country is rigorously tested in laboratories to meet the standard sulphur and octane levels.

He said: “It is unacceptable that the petrol imported into the country contains high sulphur levels, is leaded, and has low octane levels – as we notably experienced in recent past that even led to socio-economic losses on a national scale including the knocking down of the engines of vehicles of Nigerians in their hundreds.

“In carbon control economies, maintaining high octane levels is a significant regulatory issue for both energy regulators and environmental protection

agencies. The lower the octane level, the cheaper the cost of refining, but this should not be at the expense of quality and environmental standards.

“The role of regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organisation of

Nigeria (SON), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the NMDPRA is pivotal in ensuring that the petrol consumed in Nigeria is of environmentally friendly grade.

“One critical aspect we must address is the infrastructure for quality assurance that enables robust testing of petroleum products with the standard practice for manual sampling fully adhered to.

“It is expected that the joint committee on this nationally important assignment will carry out investigations on the quality and the number in of laboratories that both the

NMDPRA and SON have or use for their tests and return with actionable feedback.

“As for the difficulties encountered by domestic refiners in accessing reliable supplies of crude oil feedstock for their refineries, it must be reiterated that

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to providing a level playing ground for producers and refiners to do business in the industry.

“Therefore, I implore the rule of engagement to ensure that the pricing model from the oil producers does not hinder the domestic refineries,” he added.

In their remarks, Co-chairmen of the Joint Investigative committees; Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (Downstream) and Rep. Henry Okojie (Midstream) called on all stakeholders to provide comprehensive support, including essential information and documentation.

They therefore urged refinery operators, importers, producers, and marketers of petroleum products to share their complaints, suggestions, and independent facts.

“To ensure a thorough examination, the committee plans to: Conduct laboratory investigations at all local refineries, marketer and importer facilities, and regulatory agency labs such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Visit various filling stations of different marketers, importers’ depots, and other relevant sites to collect samples for analysis.

“These samples will be examined in their labs, and also in alternative private independent labs to ascertain sulfur levels and other critical components. The committee will hire an internationally certified lab and where possible conduct live testing of all imported and locally produced products to help resolve the issues. The results of such testing on all imported and produced petroleum products, will be announced publicly.

“The committee affirmed that apart from finding a final solution to the alleged embarrassing issue of non-availability of crude supply to domestic refiners both modular and big refiners, the findings will stretch to crude produced and the quantity that ought to go to local refiners and the reasons for falling short, the impact of crude forward sales on availability of crude to domestic refiners and other issues,” they said.

According to the joint committee, letters of invitation for paper submissions and appearances have been dispatched to key stakeholders, including the Minister for Petroleum (Oil), the management of NNPCL, the GCEO Mele Kyari, Executive Vice President Downstream, and Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Operations Officers, and their lab heads or testing partners.

Others include IPMAN, PETROAN, NUPRC CEO, independent oil producers, international oil companies (IOCs), importers, marketers, and depot owners.

News

Trump set to sign Executive Order to flush out transgender personnel from US military

Published

10 minutes ago

November 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

President-elect, Donald Trump, is set to sign an executive order that would remove all transgender members from the United States military.

It was learnt that the development has intensified concerns within the LGBTQ+ community.

The report claimed that the state officials had stated that transgender personnel would be discharged on medical grounds, deeming them “unfit” to serve.

Recall that during Trump’s first term as president, he introduced a similar policy that prohibited transgender individuals from joining the armed forces while allowing those already enlisted to remain in their roles.

After Trump left office, President Joe Biden had overturned the military ban in his first week as president in 2021, issuing an executive order to restore transgender individuals’ right to serve openly. However, with Trump’s potential return to the White House, transgender rights in the US may face renewed challenges.

However, the current proposal, as reported, would extend to removing all transgender service members, regardless of their current status. It is anticipated that the executive order will be issued on Trump’s first day in office, January 20 next year.

If signed, Trump’s new directive could be broader and more contentious than the policy he implemented during his first term. What would be its impact on transgender personnel serving in US military.

Reports indicated that approximately 15,000 transgender individuals are actively serving in the US military.

This is coming amid moves by US congress to stop irst transgender lawmaker from using female restrooms and bathrooms in her new workplace.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson had expressed his support for the policy that tends to disregard transgender ideologies in the legislative arm.

“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” the speaker said in a statement last Wednesday.

“It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.

It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

News

PHOTO: Courtesy visit to Priesthood Orphanage by Just Friends Club of Nigeria Founder

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

Dr. (Mrs) Blessing Echenwo, left, founder of Priesthood Orphanage, Karamajiji, Abuja and Mrs. Maria Cardillo, a member of Just Friends Club of Nigeria, during the visit of the club to the orphanage in Abuja…recently

News

Just in: NYSC Releases Batch ‘C’ Corps Members Call Up Letters

Published

4 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

The National Youth Service Corps has announced the release of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream I call-up letters for prospective corps members.

The corps made the announcement in a series of post on its official X (former Twitter) handle on Monday.

It said orientation camp for the stream is expected to start on November 27, 2024 and closes on December 17, 2024.

According to the post, “some prospective corp members posted to Lagos will have orientation in Ogun and Osun.

“While some of those posted to Zamfara will have in Kebbi and Sokoto etc”

The corps, however, advised prospective corps members to print and sign an addendum, which will be submitted during registration at the orientation camp.

Tips to guide Deployed Prospective Corps Members

Do not travel to the Orientation Camps at night. Break your journey when necessary.
Report on your scheduled reporting date.
Apply for spelling error and name rearrangement on your dashboard.
After documentation in the Camp, you cannot change your Date of Birth, Date of Graduation, Course of Study and Passport Photograph.
Do not report to the Camp if there is any discrepancies in your course of study or with the Date of Graduation on your Statement of Result and your Call-up Letter. Contact your Institution to sort it out.
ATTENTION TO ALL 2024 BATCH ”C” STREAM I MARRIED FEMALE PROSPECTIVE CORPS MEMBERS

All married female Prospective Corps members (PCMs) who are deployed to States where their husbands are not domiciled should report to the nearest NYSC Orientation Camp for their State of Deployment to be changed.

They are to report during the period of Registration at the Orientation Camps with the copies of their marital and other relevant documents as evidence. Once the change is made it will reflect on theirM dashboard for reprinting.