The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to permit oil marketers to buy premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, directly from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
This resolution was passed during a plenary session on Thursday, following the adoption of an urgent motion sponsored by Oboku Oforji, a lawmaker from Bayelsa State.
The federal government previously announced on September 14 that the Dangote refinery would exclusively sell petrol to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, requiring other interested marketers to source the product through the national oil firm.
Three days later, NNPC’s Executive Vice President for Downstream, Adedapo Segun, clarified that oil marketers are prohibited from purchasing petrol directly from the refinery due to ongoing subsidized pricing.
During the motion’s presentation, Oforji emphasized the urgent need for independent marketers to access petrol directly, stating, “In view of the high demand by millions of Nigerians for premium motor spirit (PMS), and the ordeal they go through to get it, NNPCL should allow independent marketers to lift the product from the Dangote refinery.”
He argued that allowing independent and major marketers, alongside NNPCL, to purchase from the refinery would enhance competition, increase availability, and ultimately reduce petrol prices.
Oforji criticised the exclusive arrangement for NNPC and major marketers, calling it “tantamount to greed” and highlighting the national oil firm’s historical mismanagement of crude resources and refineries.
He warned, “If this monopoly is not nipped in the bud, the suffering of Nigerians occasioned by the scarcity of PMS will continue and we all know the implication on the economy.”
The motion has now been referred to a joint ad hoc committee of the Senate and House of Representatives for further legislative consideration.
Boluwatife Enome
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