By Anayo Akwitti
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has rejected the petroleum importation records presented by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for 2022 and 2023 over wide discrepancies with figures supplied by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The committee consequently resolved to summon the heads of NMDPRA, NNPCL and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) to explain the discrepancies and reconcile the records or expose possible fraud.
The discrepancies came to light when NMDPRA appeared before the committee to respond to queries raised against it in NEITI’s 2021–2023 Oil and Gas Industry Audit Report.
The Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, who was represented by Deputy Director Uzoamaka Ugwu-Ojobe, maintained that the authority’s records on petroleum importation were credible despite the differences.
She said NMDPRA recorded 3.29 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, imported in 2022 and 6.02 billion litres in 2023.
The figures differed significantly from NNPCL’s records, which indicated 6.27 billion litres in 2022 and 3.88 billion litres in 2023.
Ugwu-Ojobe described the differences as slight, adding that the agencies were examining the figures for possible reconciliation.
However, Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, faulted the explanation, describing the discrepancies as wide, disturbing and suspicious.
Ningi said differences exceeding 50 per cent could not reasonably be dismissed as slight or left to be resolved without a thorough investigation.
Similarly, Senator Dayo Faduyile, representing Ondo South, expressed concern that the conflicting records raised questions about the accuracy of the agencies’ figures.
Another committee member, Senator Anietan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East, called for a comprehensive investigation, warning that Nigerians must not continue to suffer losses while those responsible for the discrepancies escape accountability.
Bassey urged the committee to establish the facts behind the conflicting records and identify anyone found to have contributed to the alleged irregularities.
Following the exchanges, the committee, chaired by Senator Hassan Dankwabo, representing Gombe North, rejected NMDPRA’s defence and resolved to summon the heads of the three agencies for a joint meeting.
The committee said the meeting would seek explanations for the discrepancies in the PMS importation figures contained in the 2021–2023 NEITI audit report and determine the appropriate steps to address the matter.
RLS
