Adulterated Fuel; The Saboteur Within -By Kelvin Adegbenga

The recent calls from the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) for the resignation of the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari; for telling Nigerians the pure truth is inessential.

It takes boldness, integrity, transparency, and accountability to say nothing but the truth, and this has been done by the CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari to reveal those that imported the “Adulterated fuel” into the country.

The four companies have been in the business of importing Petroleum Motor Spirit, also known as Petrol, for over a decade. Why is it now they are being persecuted, especially Duke Oil?

The regulatory body, that is, the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, is not new to the inspection of standard specifications on all petroleum.

Have we ever considered saboteurs within this case?

From the explanation of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC and that of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, it was indicated that all necessary checks were done properly.

Since inspection was done at the port of import and even at the port of arrival in Nigeria, I am considering saboteurs within who must have contaminated the imported fuel.

Responses from the majority of the accused importers have shown grievances with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and their foreign consortium.

I came to this conclusion after reading the 3-page response from Emadebl Hydel/AYMaikifi/Britania-U Consortium.

Emadebl Hydel/AYMaikifi had issues of agreement with Britania-U and the claim that Britania-U should be blamed has lots of meaning. 

I’m just thinking aloud that the adulteration might be a plan to exit Britania-U from the consortium.

In line with the directive of President Buhari, who doubles as Minister of Petroleum, the probe should take the case of saboteurs very seriously because the proper checking was done on the imported fuel and these companies are not new to the business.

I will not join the bandwagon of calling for the head of the NNPC and NMDPRA without proper wider investigations.

All responses from the named companies have shown a “bad belle” with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as they seem not happy with their foreign consortium.

On a final note, it is high time the implementation of fuel subsidy removal takes effect in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, as it will go a long way to putting an end to the internal crisis among the major oil companies in the country.

Kelvin Adegbenga is a freelance journalist based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He can be reached via @kelvinadegbenga