The Senate on Wednesday raised an alarm over the increase in substandard Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, and diesel in the Nigerian market.
Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong observed that on June 16, 2024, a report revealed that 12 diesel cargoes conveying a total of 660 kilotons of diesel were exported by refineries to offshore Lome, Togo for further distribution to West African markets, mainly Nigeria.
He stated that the quality of the diesel was below Nigerian standards in terms of flash and sulfur levels.
Ekpeyong further disclosed that despite the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) recently revising the standards for diesel importation into Nigeria in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, it has been incapable of enforcing compliance with these standards.
The lawmakers subsequently set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the continued importation of hazardous petroleum products and the dumping of substandard diesel in Nigeria.
Ekpeyong also noted that the NMDPRA has continued to issue import licenses for diesel and jet fuel, despite sufficient local production capacity.
As the lawmakers expressed anger over what they described as sabotage and a clear failure of the objectives of the PIA, the Upper Chamber asserted that those found culpable in the illicit act must face the wrath of the law.