Senate Rejects NMDPRA’s 2022, 2023 PMS Import Records Over Disparities With NNPC

The Senate has rejected records of Premium Motor Spirit importation presented by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for 2022 and 2023, over wide disparities between the figures and those presented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. 

The decision was taken by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, which described the differences as unacceptable and suspicious and resolved to summon the heads of NMDPRA, NNPC and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

The disparities emerged during a hearing on queries raised in the NEITI Oil and Gas Industry Audit Report covering 2021 to 2023.

Responding on behalf of the Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Deputy Director Uzoamaka Ugwu-Ojobe insisted that the Authority’s records were credible, stating that 3.29 billion litres of PMS were imported in 2022 and 6.02 billion litres in 2023, against NNPC’s figures of 6.27 billion litres in 2022 and 3.88 billion litres in 2023.

She described the gaps as slight and said reconciliation was ongoing, but the committee members faulted the claim.

Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, said a disparity of over 50 per cent could not be described as slight, calling it disturbing and suspicious.

Senator Dayo Faduyile, Ondo South, said the figures left room to suspect foul play, while Senator Anietie Bassey, Akwa Ibom North East, insisted on a thorough investigation to prevent Nigerians from being shortchanged.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hassan Dankwabo, Gombe North, noted that the defence was unacceptable and announced that the heads of the three agencies would be summoned for a tripartite meeting to reconcile the records or expose possible fraud.