Senate Rejects NMDPRA’s PMS Import Records, Summons Agency Heads

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has rejected the petroleum importation records presented by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for 2022 and 2023 over significant discrepancies with figures reported by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The committee consequently resolved to summon the heads of NMDPRA, NNPCL and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) to explain the differences and facilitate a reconciliation of the records.

The move followed the committee’s consideration of NMDPRA’s response to queries raised in the NEITI Oil and Gas Industry Audit Report covering 2021 to 2023 yesterday in Abuja.

The discrepancies concern the volume of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, imported into Nigeria during the period under review.

Responding to the committee’s queries, NMDPRA Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, represented by Deputy Director Uzoamaka Ugwu-Ojobe, defended the authority’s figures, insisting that its records were credible despite the differences with those of NNPCL.

“We stand by 3.29 billion litres of PMS as volume imported in 2022 and 6.02 billion litres as volume imported in 2023 against 6.27 billion litres recorded by NNPCL in 2022 and 3.88 billion litres in 2023.

“The slight disparities are being looked into for possible reconciliation,” she said.

However, the explanation did not satisfy members of the committee, who described the differences as significant and called for a thorough investigation.

Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, said the discrepancies, which exceed 50 per cent in some comparisons, could not be dismissed as slight.

“The disparities in records of PMS importation between NMDPRA and NNPCL in 2022 and 2023, as stated in the NEITI Oil and Gas Industry Audit Report of 2021 to 2023, are too wide to be described as slight or being looked into without the seriousness required,” Ningi said.

Similarly, Senator Dayo Faduyile, representing Ondo South, expressed concern that the conflicting figures called into question the accuracy of the records submitted by the two agencies.

He said the discrepancies left considerable room for suspicion that something was amiss.

Senator Anietan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East, outrightly rejected NMDPRA’s defence, insisting that the committee must investigate the differences to establish the correct figures and protect the country’s interests.

“Mr Chairman and very distinguished colleagues, these questionable records of volume of PMS importation by the two agencies must be thoroughly investigated to save Nigerians from being yearly shortchanged and expose those milking the country dry,” Bassey said.

Following the exchanges, the committee, chaired by Senator Hassan Dankwabo, representing Gombe North, rejected NMDPRA’s explanation and resolved to convene a meeting involving the three agencies.

In announcing the decision, Dankwabo said the committee considered the authority’s response unacceptable in view of the discrepancies highlighted in the NEITI audit report.

“In view of the unacceptability of presentations made by the representative of NMDPRA on queries raised against it in the NEITI Oil and Gas Audit Report covering 2021 to 2023, specifically on the volume of PMS imported within the years under review, this committee resolved to summon heads of NMDPRA, NNPCL and NEITI for reasons behind the wide disparities,” he said.

The planned meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for the agencies to explain the differences in their records and determine whether the figures can be reconciled.

The committee’s decision also signals further scrutiny of petroleum importation data, with lawmakers seeking clarity on the conflicting figures and accountability from the agencies responsible for regulating, reporting and monitoring activities in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.