The Senate has set up a committee to probe the influx of substandard Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), diesel, into the Nigerian market.
Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong made this known on Wednesday while raising a matter of urgent national importance
He observed that on the 16th of June, 2024, a report revealed that 12 diesel cargoes conveying a total of 660 kilotons of diesel, were taken to offshore Lome, Togo for further distribution to West African markets, mainly Nigeria.
According to him, the quality of the said diesel was below standard in terms of flash and Sulphur levels.
Senator Ekpeyong further disclosed that even though the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority recently revised the standards of diesel importation into Nigeria, it had not enforced compliance to standards
He further averred that the agency had continued to issue import licences for diesel and je fuel, despite sufficient local production capacity.
The Senate consequently set up an ad-hoc committee, to investigate the continued importation of hazardous petroleum products into the country.
The Ad-hoc committee which is chaired by the Senate leader, has been given three weeks to report back to the chamber