The Nigerian House of Representatives have urged the Dangote Refinery to publicly disclose the price of a litre of petrol from its plant and allow independent marketers to lift the product directly instead of going through the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL). The resolution was reached after a motion sponsored by Oboku Oforji, representing Yenagoa/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State, during plenary in Abuja.
Oforji expressed concerns that only major marketers have access to lift products from the refinery, thus creating a monopoly equivalent to greed. Independent marketers may resort to fuel imports to sustain their businesses.
He said, “The House is worried that NNPCL and the major marketers as exclusive off-takers, spell monopoly which is equivalent to greed. This is the same NNPCL that has failed to manage our crude and refineries for decades.
“If this monopoly is not nipped in the bud, the suffering of Nigerians occasioned by the scarcity of PMS will continue and we all know the implications on the economy.
“No wonder the late MKO Abiola of blessed memory, in a viral video, some years ago, lamented that the NNPCL lacks transparency and accountability.
“The House is disturbed that allowing the NNPCL and major marketers to lift Premium Motor Spirit from the refinery to the exclusion of independent marketers, is not good enough.”
According to him, “IPMAN representatives have expressed fears that it may be forced to resort to fuel imports to sustain their businesses.”
The lawmaker commended the parent company, Dangote Group for the commencement of petroleum refining, adding that with the feat, the journey to Nigeria’s energy self-sufficiency may have begun.
“The House notes that by this feat, Nigeria is driving towards energy self-sufficiency, cost and foreign exchange savings, meeting the increasing demand for fuels and attracting foreign capital investment. The generation of forex through the export of finished products, conservation of foreign exchange and huge value addition will contribute to an increase in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
“The House further note that given the high demand by millions of Nigerians for PMS, and the ordeal they go through to get it, NNPCL should allow independent marketers to lift the product from the Dangote refinery,” he added.
