Members of the House of Representatives yesterday weighed in on the secrecy surrounding the pricing of petroleum products by the Dangote Refinery, just as it directed the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reveal the price it sells crude oil to Dangote while allowing independent marketers to lift fuel from the newly established refinery.
 
The resolutions were reached after a motion sponsored by Oboku Oforji, representing Yenagoa/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State, during plenary on Thursday in Abuja.
   
Oforji expressed concerns that only major marketers have access to lift products from the refinery, thus creating a monopoly equivalent to greed. Independent marketers may resort to fuel imports to sustain their businesses.
   
Arising from the debate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, inaugurated a panel chaired by House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, to serve in a joint committee of the Senate to investigate the crisis bedeviling the petroleum sector and proffer recommendations on the way forward.
   
This is as the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, decried what he described as the frustration of Dangote Refinery by vested interests, saying Nigeria is supposed to be maximising the benefits of locally producing petroleum products.
   
Speaking in Abuja during the launch of the book, ‘Public Policy and Agents Interests: Perspectives From The Emerging World,’ which he contributed to, the respected monarch and former Central Bank Governor said the country’s first privately owned refinery is being frustrated because of vested interests, explaining that these saboteurs range from international oil marketers to ‘people locally who have been profiting from these subsidy scams’ . 
   
His words: “The Nigerian State has been captured to a rental class that sees the state as a site for rent extraction rather than as an agent for development. This is the fact and this is what has destroyed Nigeria. People get into office and when they get into office, what they are thinking of is how much they can make out of the state rather than how they can use the state to serve the citizenry. 
 
 “On the Dangote Refinery, I don’t know what the details are, but this is a country that has been importing petroleum products for so many years. This was an opportunity for weaning itself from importing petroleum products. Instead of grabbing this opportunity with open arms, we are frustrating it. Why would anyone stop us from having the capacity to produce our refined petroleum products? Because there are vested interests who have profited from Nigeria continue to import this product.”  
   
Also yesterday, the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) called on the Federal Government to immediately reverse the recent petrol price increase, warning that failure to do so could lead to dire consequences. This demand comes as Nigeria grapples with rising poverty rates.
   
In a communiqué issued on Thursday after its meeting, the NCEF attributed the current economic hardship in Nigeria to the petrol price hike, which has increased the costs of food and other essential commodities.
   
The communiqué, signed by Dr. Samuel Gani, Chairman of the NCEF, emphasised the urgent need for government action. The group also expressed concern over the impact of recent protests, citing the worsening hardship faced by Nigerians.
   
To address these challenges, the NCEF recommended a comprehensive approach, including reviewing petrol prices to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, reducing electricity tariffs to enhance productivity and create employment opportunities, improving security measures, particularly for rural farmers, and addressing the impact of protests caused by the petrol price increase and economic hardship.
   
In a similar vein, a former Minister of Finance, Kalu Idika Kalu, has said government subsidies on essential items are not bad.  Proponents of subsidy removal have argued the subsidy regime was gulping resources and that it benefits only certain groups of persons. The Federal Government also said it was spending much on subsidising electricity, which it noted is not sustainable.
   
But Kalu, who served as a finance minister from 1985 to 1986 and 1993 to 1994, said there is nothing wrong with subsidies as some countries like the United States, Russia, and Argentina have them in place to help the people.
   
The economist said despite the arguments against subsidies, proper management will ensure that they get to the targeted people. According to him, the managers of the nation’s economy should work on the best model that will deliver development to the citizens.
   
Meanwhile, Marie Tecnimont S.P.A, the firm awarded a $1.5 billion contract to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt refinery, has replied to human rights lawyer, Femi Falana. 
   
Recall that Falana had filed an official request under the Nigerian Freedom of Information Act, seeking clarity on the completion date of the much-delayed refinery overhaul. “In line with the terms of the contract, which was awarded sometime in April 2021, the project is expected to be completed in three phases of 18, 24 and 44 months,” he said.
   
The rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery has been a subject of public concern, with repeated delays fueling frustration over the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products despite possessing domestic refining capacity.
   
Giving reasons Marie Tecnimont should comply with his request, Falana said the company is bound by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act because they utilised huge public funds to execute the rehabilitation contract and failure to provide the requested information will result in legal redress at the court.
   
However, reacting to his letter on Thursday, Muyiwa Ogungbenro, a partner at Olajide Oyewole LLP, acknowledged Falana’s letter, promising him to provide the needed information on or before 2 October 2024.
   
“We are counsel to Maire Tecnimont SpA, and we have our client’s instruction to let you know that they have received your letters dated 17 and 24 September 2024 requesting information on the contract between our client and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. Our client is considering your letters, and they intend to get back to you on or before 2 October 2024.”