The House of Representatives has expressed willingness to make contributions towards improving the Downstream Sector of the Petroleum industry which is at the moment the “backbone” of Nigeria’s economy.
The House noted that, the downstream sector of the Petroleum Industry stands out today to be the most influential, critical and internal political unit in the system that seriously concerns the common citizen.
Adullahi Mahmud, Chairman House Standing Committee on Petroleum (Downstream ) made this known at the inaugural meeting of Committee in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mahmud observed that, “today if anything happens to be an abstraction on the downstream chain with shortages in supply of products to filling stations, the outcry of the common man will be demonstrated on our streets all over the country.
“The basic expectations of the common man in Nigeria is to go into a filling station freely, refills his tank with product at accurate price, volume and quality within reasonable time. Anything short of the above may not be condoned by the citizens thus, the prevailing challenges the Committee must handle effectively”.
Explaining the mandate of the Committee, he said, “My Honorable Colleagues you may wish to note that, the jurisdiction of the Committee as contained in the Standing Orders of the House shall cover:
Oversight of Petroleum Refineries, Oversight of Petroleum Products Marketing, Petrochemicals, Oversight of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC).
” Matters relating to downstream Petroleum sector and oversight of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Oversight of the Petroleum Equalization Funds (PEF) Oversight of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) ‘ Examining and scrutinizing in conference with relevant committee(s), the annual budget estimates of the NNPC and it’s subsidiaries and all oil related companies and presenting same to the House for considerations and approval.
“The Agencies under this jurisdiction included therefore: Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation'(NNPC) Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) Port Harcourt Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited, Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Retails (NNPC Retails) Marine and Logistics (ML) Nigeria Pipeline and Storage Company Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) Department of Petroleum Resources DPR”.
James Kwen, Abuja
