The Federal House of Representatives has moved swiftly to douse a bubbling crisis in the downstream oil sector, summoning Dangote Group President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the NMDPRA leadership over escalating public hostilities and corruption allegations.
The House Joint Committee, co-chaired by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okogie, convened an emergency meeting, branding the rising tensions a threat to the “fragile stability” recently achieved post-subsidy removal.
The Committee immediately ordered both sides to “cease all media hostilities” pending the outcome of the legislative investigation, which they promised would be “swift and out in days.”
Ugochinyere stated that the committees were compelled to act quickly to prevent further escalation.
He said: “The key issue that necessitated this emergency meeting was the growing tension that has returned to the downstream sector as a result of concerns and allegations raised by Alhaji Aliko Dangote against the NMDPRA.
“This is coming at a time when the committee is jealously guarding the stability that has been achieved in the sector.”
The lawmakers stressed that only a full understanding of the problems could enable the National Assembly to broker lasting solutions.
“We can only find sustainable solutions when we identify the critical issues leading to this tension. That is why the committee resolved to write to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the NMDPRA chief to meet with us and give insights into what is driving these allegations and counter-allegations,” Ugochinyere said.
In a direct appeal, the Committee urged restraint.
“We resolved to plead with the contending parties to cease fire, especially media comments, so that the situation does not escalate further,” Ugochinyere noted.
The crisis boiled over when Alhaji Aliko Dangote, speaking at his Lekki refinery, publicly accused the NMDPRA Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, of corruption.
Dangote alleged that Ahmed spent $5 million – money he described as inconsistent with a public servant’s income – on six years of secondary education for four of his children abroad.
He claimed: “…taxpayers deserved accountability and questioned why a public official could afford to spend millions of dollars on his children’s foreign education if public funds were being properly used.”
The NMDPRA has yet to formally respond to the explosive claim.
The Committee revealed it has already received petitions touching on critical industry concerns, including the contentious issuance of import licences and questions regarding the actual capacity of local refineries to meet Nigeria’s daily demand.
“These are serious issues. Some relate to import licences, others to whether local refineries can produce enough to satisfy national demand which the investigation undertaken by the committee will resolve,” Ugochinyere said.
The lawmaker assured that all stakeholders would be thoroughly examined.
“By the time Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the NMDPRA and other stakeholders meet with the committee, we will get the real gist of what is happening and come up with resolutions that provide sustainable solutions for the sector,” he assured.