The house of Representatives has mandated its Committee on petroleum resources downstream to investigate the release of adulterated petroleum across the country.
They also called on the Nigeria National Petroleum Company NNPC, to suspend and investigate the four companies allegedly responsible for bringing the adulterated fuel into the country.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by the Chief Whip of the house, Muhammad Monguno at plenary.
Monguno expressed concern that the lack of credible monitoring and surveillance system to ensure adequate fuel quality has resulted in the recent importation of adulterated fuel.
The lawmaker stressed that there is a need to put in place systems that would check the quality of petroleum products being imported into the country.
According to him, the incidence is currently affecting the vehicles of many Nigerians.
“This incident further reinforced the clamour by Nigerians that the nation’s refineries should be revamped so that this ugly scenario of being an oil-producing country that imports refined petroleum products could be consigned to the dustbin of history.
The Chief Whip called for a serious investigation into the matter and the punishment of those found responsible.
Contributing to the debate, a member from Borno State Haruna Mishelia, argued that the guilty importers should be made to compensate all the motorists affected by the adulterated fuel.
For a member from Akwa Ibom state, Onofiok Luke, the answer to the problem is the establishment of modular refineries.
Other lawmakers who contributed, agreed that the culprits should be brought to book to serve as a deterrent.
Adopting the motion, the house resolved to invite the NNPC to get to the root of the matter.
On Wednesday, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari faulted the Importation of adulterated from Belgium by some companies which resulted in fuel scarcity across major cities.