The House of Representatives on Thursday demanded a probe of key stakeholders allegedly involved in the importation of adulterated Premium Motor Spirit into Nigeria.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and MRS Oil Nigeria Plc had traded blame on the issue.
Several members of the House, who spoke on the development, called for sanctions against Federal Government agencies and officials who failed to carry out due diligence before passing the product for onward distribution to marketers.
The House consequently resolved to investigate the matter, insisting that those in the import and distribution chain whose action or inaction led to the spread of the commodity must be held accountable.
The Majority Whip, Mohammed Monguno, had moved a motion of urgent public importance, titled ‘Need to Investigate the Release and Sale of Adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Petrol Stations Across Nigeria.’
Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to “investigate the release of adulterated PMS across the country, with a view to ensuring that culprits are brought to book as well as make recommendations towards curbing a reoccurrence of such incident.”
The House also asked the committee to “ascertain whether the Nigerian specification concerning importation, distribution and dispensing of the alleged toxic petrol in Nigeria, from January till date, complies with international standards.”
Also, the lawmakers further asked the committee to “investigate the roles played by the NNPC Limited, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy, any other government regulatory agencies, limited liabilities companies and individuals in the unfortunate episode.”
Furthermore, the House asked NNPC Limited to suspend the four companies involved in the importation of the adulterated PMS
Moving the motion, Monguno said, “Recently, the country witnessed a sudden scarcity of PMS, with the attendant long queues at petrol stations, especially in the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos State. According to reports, the scarcity was as a result of adulterated petrol in circulation, upon the discovery of which the Federal Government ordered the stoppage of further distribution of the product.
“The poor quality product was noticed about a week ago when many car engines of motorists were reportedly damaged and consumers allegedly started arresting and suing retail outlet owners for selling them products which damaged their vehicles.”
