Buhari to face House panel over state of refineries

The Chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on the state o

f the nation’s four refineries, their turn around maintenance (TAM) and regular/modular licensed refineries, Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari would face the committee over the state of Nigeria’s refineries.

He stated this at the opening of a two-day public hearing of the committee, with officials of the NNPC in attendance.

He explained that a letter was written inviting the President to enable members of the committee to ask him questions on the state of the refineries.

This, according to him, would help the committee get to the root of endless commitment of huge resources to the refineries without positive results.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is the Minister of Petroleum and we have written him to grant us audience which he has agreed.

“This is the first time in the history of Nigeria’s democracy that a President would be questioned over Turn Around Maintenance of the nation’s refineries,” Datti said.

He lamented the poor performance of the refineries despite the stupendous amount of money spent on them by government, saying the House would intervene in order to end fuel importation in the country.

A member of the committee, Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim Ayokunle representing Ifo Ewekoro federal constituency, expressed dissatisfaction over the manner Nigeria refineries were handled.

He described as unfortunate, the continued importation of fuel despite the existence of four refineries. He suspected sabotage as a reason for the malfunctioning of the refineries, asking the officials to be open to enable the House take a decision.

“It is unfortunate that we continue to import fuel despite having four refineries. Why is it that we cannot get our TAM right despite huge expenditure. There is need for you officials of the NNPC to be open to us. ”

The ad-hoc committee hearing followed an adoption of a motion by the House that the Turn Around Maintenance of the nation’s refineries be investigated.