According to the lawmakers, this will allow investigations into the allegations against the agency.
Following the crisis rocking the Nigerian oil sector, the House of Representatives has called for the suspension of the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
According to the lawmakers, this will allow investigations into the allegations against the agency.
The House addressed a motion of urgent public importance introduced by Hon. Esosa Iyawe, highlighting the need to address concerns related to fuel quality.
Hon. Iyawe noted that fuel quality can impact engine performance and emphasised the importance of using ultra-low sulfur diesel in various applications, including power plants, industrial facilities, and vehicles.
He explained that high sulfur content in fuels can damage engines and contribute to air pollution, and that governments worldwide have established regulations to limit sulfur emissions, requiring diesel producers to meet specific standards.
He further argued that considering the various risks associated with Sulphur, governments around the world have taken steps to regulate it by setting standards that require maximum reduction of emissions of this chemical compound, which diesel producers are expected to adhere to.
According to the Edo Lawmaker, Sulphur dioxide has dire environmental and health consequences, as it can damage the human respiratory system, compromise lung function and even cause cancer.
He said the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDPRA) permits local refiners to produce diesel with Sulphur content of up to 650 parts per million (ppm) until January 2025, as approved by the ECOWAS.
He alleged that recently, the Chief Executive of the NMDPRA stated that the diesel produced by the Dangote refinery is inferior to the ones imported into the country and that their fuel had a large content of Sulphur, which he put at between 650 to 1,200ppm.
He said: “In their defence, Dangote called for a test of their products, which was supervised by Members of the House of Representatives, wherein it was revealed that Dangote’s diesel had a Sulphur content of 87.6 ppm (parts per million), whereas the other two samples diesel imported showed Sulphur levels exceeding 1800 ppm and 2000 ppm respectively, thus disproving the allegations made by the NMDPRA boss.
“Allegations have been made that the NMDPRA was giving licences to some traders who regularly import high-Sulphur content diesel into Nigeria, and the use of such products poses grave health risks and huge financial losses for Nigerians.
He further expressed worry that the Chief Executive of the NMDPRA made an unguarded statement which has since been disproved and this led to an outrage from Nigerians who tagged his undermining of local refineries and insistence on the continued importation of fuel an act of economic sabotage, as the imported products have been shown to contain high levels of dangerous compounds.
The House of Representatives earlier called on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, and oil marketers to refrain from making public accusations against each other, using the media.
SaharaReporters also reported that Nigerians have been calling for the resignation of the NMDPRA boss following controversies around his claims that Dangote refinery produces inferior products.