Senate Sounds Alarm:Substandard Diesel Floods Nigerian Market

By:Israel Adeleke

In a matter of urgent national importance, the Nigerian Senate has raised an alarm over the influx of substandard Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) into the country. 

OPEN TELEVISION Naija gathered that, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, observed that on June 16, 2024, a report revealed that 12 diesel cargoes, totaling 660 kilotons, were exported by refineries to offshore Lome, Togo, primarily for distribution in West African markets, mainly Nigeria. 

He said, the quality of this diesel fell below Nigerian standards in terms of flash point and sulfur levels.

Ekpeyong disclosed that; even though the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) recently revised the standards of diesel importation into Nigeria in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, it has been incapable of enforcing compliance with the standards.

He stressed that the NMDPRA has continued to issue import licences for diesel and jet, despite sufficient local production capacity.

The Lawmakers expressed frustration, considering this a clear failure of the objectives outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The Upper Chamber asserted that those responsible for this illicit activity will face legal consequences.

Consequently, the Senate established an ad-hoc committee to investigate the continued importation of hazardous petroleum products and the dumping of substandard diesel within Nigeria. 

Meanwhile, Senate President Sen. Godswill Akpabio emphasized that the issues raised within the PIA should be reviewed, not as an act of witch-hunting anyone, but to set the records straight.

However, the ad-hoc committee, chaired by the Senate leader, has been given three weeks to report back to the house on its findings.