By Our Correspondent
The new chairman, Senate Ad-hoc committee investigating turn around maintenance of government owned oil refineries, Senator Sumaila Kawu (Kano South) has vowed that his panel would tackle the persistent lack of transparency in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, which he said was being run by a powerful cabal.
Kawu who was also made the chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), during plenary on Wednesday, told journalists that the cabal running the refineries would be exposed.
He promised to use the committee to dismantle the “cabal-like” operations that have characterized the industry, ensuring that decision-making processes are accessible and understandable to the public.
He said, “first of all, we will study the situation and we will get the information from relevant agencies to see what we can do on the refineries .
“Therefore, there is need for us to put our heads together with all relevant stakeholders, at least, to know where we are as far as the status of the refineries are concerned.
“Those in charge of the oil sector, particularly the refineries, are running them like a cabal.
” Nobody knows what is going on. Therefore, there is a need for Nigeria at least to know what is going on there, which we will do our own best to unravel”.
Kaeu added that his committee will focus specifically on reviewing contracts awarded by previous administrations and overseeing the current contracts for refinery repairs.
By scrutinizing the agreements, he said the panel would expose any irregularities and ensure that funds are being used effectively.
He pledged to engage with stakeholders, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and refinery operators, to understand the barriers to efficient production and accountability.
Kawu who acknowledged that the task is not an easy one however said “I know it is very difficult, it’s challenging, but we are all human beings; as legislators we will do everything possible, at least, to see how we can alleviate the suffering of our constituents”.
