The decision by oil marketers to import fuel worth over N3 trillion between October 1 and November 11 this year has raised serious concerns, according to the Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria (ERAN).
Expressing its alarm, ERAN questioned why the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) failed to encourage marketers to patronise local refineries.
Dr. Robinson Onuh, the leader of ERAN, claimed that reports indicated that Nigeria imported 1.5 million metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 414,018 metric tonnes of diesel, and 13,500 metric tonnes of aviation fuel during the period.
In a statement on Monday, ERAN stated that these volumes translate to over 2 billion litres of petrol, 500 million litres of diesel, and 17 million litres of jet fuel, amounting to a cumulative cost of nearly N3 trillion.
The group noted that this continued reliance on imports is detrimental to Nigeria’s local refining sector, especially with the operational Dangote Refinery and the government-owned refineries still non-functional despite the trillions of naira invested in them.
ERAN held several officials accountable for the challenges facing the energy sector, including the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO)of the NNPCL, Mr. Mele Kyari; the CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed; and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe.
The group insisted that more needs to be done, even after changes in the NNPCL’s board and top management team, including the removal of Umar Ajiya and Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan from their positions as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President (Upstream), respectively.
ERAN criticised Kyari for inconsistency, noting that he recently claimed the NNPC had ended importation and was focused on nationwide fuel distribution, only to contradict himself days later.
The statement further highlighted Kyari’s unfulfilled promises about the resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt refinery, which was expected by September 30. It lamented that Nigerians continue to buy adulterated and high-sulphur contaminated fuel while the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries remain non-operational despite the government’s massive financial investments. (Guardian)
