The House of Representatives has asked it’s committee to investigate the sale of adulterated premium motor spirit (petrol) to the Nigerian public, a move seen as another wild goose chase.

On Thursday, the House summoned the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd., Mele Kyari, and the four companies involved in the importation.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep Mohammed Mongunu, the Chief Whip of the house on Thursday in Abuja.

In his motion, he noted that the country recently witnessed scarcity of fuel in petroleum stations especially in the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos State.

He said that according to reports, the scarcity was as a report of alleged adulterated petrol in circulation.

The bad fuel was dispensed around the country about a week ago, with many car engines of motorists reportedly damaged. The development has already sparked a litany of lawsuits against retail outlets.

“Nigeria is known to be a petroleum producing country. As a result of either our actions or inactions over the years, we have now outsourced the refining of petroleum products to jurisdictions outside Nigeria,” Mr Monguno noted. “As such,  it behoves us as a country to closely monitor the quality of petroleum products that are being imported in the country.”

NNPC boss Kyari had earlier released a self-indicting excuse, pointing fingers at MRS, Oando, Emadeb Consortium, and Duke Oil, a subsidiary of the NNPC, as importers of the methanol-blended petrol.

Without any thorough investigation, the NNPC in its statement admitted receiving warnings that the products were bad. But they still went on to discharge to the general market.

The House investigation will cover roles played by the NNPC Ltd, the Nigeria Customs Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, and other agencies responsible for overseeing importation and dispensing of fuel.

Rep Taiwo Oluga (APC-Osun) said the NNPC GMD should be summoned to explain why it would be gambling with the lives of Nigerians.

“It is a shame that we will be producing the crude and they will be importing adulterated fuel, the NNPC should be invited to come to plenary to explain to the house what is wrong and not the committee,” he said.

Rep Ahmed Wase, the Deputy Speaker of the House who presided over the plenary, however,  objected to the NNPC appearing at the plenary.

He said the house  should have confidence in its  committee, adding that they should be made to appear before the committee and not before the whole house at  plenary.

Rep Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP-Kogi) stated that those who used the fuel everyday such as taxi drivers and others, were being unnecessarily punished, adding that there should be a deliberate effort to assuage their feelings.

Rep AbdulGaniyu Johnson (APC-Lagos) said it was  time to revisit the concept of ease of doing business in Nigeria, adding that various regulatory bodies should be allowed to do their work.

Rep Onofiok Luke (PDP-Akwa-Ibon) in his contribution, said Nigeria as a whole had been bedeviled  with various challenges and this adulterated fuel was adding additional burden.

“I have had so many who have called me about their engine packing up and their cars malfunctioning because of the adulterated fuel imported into the country.

“We must be able to get the people to be accountable in the offices they hold. There are inspections at the point of loading, who are the people responsible, are they performing their responsibilities ,” he asked.

According to him, if the NNPC has come out to say that there is something wrong then it is no longer an allegation. It is a confession and we must take it from there.

(NAN)