Fuel Scarcity: Senate Invites PPPRA, Customs, NPA, Others

• Fuel Scarcity: Senate Invites PPPRA, Customs, NPA, Others

The Senate has extended its investigation into the lingering scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (also known as petrol) to more Federal Government agencies and parastatals.

Specifically, the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has invited the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, among others, to appear before it to explain their roles in the crisis.

The committee has also requested for some documents from the invitees.

Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone, Chairman of the committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa, said the probe was extended to more government Agencies, Departments and Parastatals based on the submissions made by stakeholders in the petroleum sector at the investigative hearing organised by the committee on the crisis, which held in Abuja on Thursday.

He said, “We have not concluded; there were some issues we raised for which we will seek documents from some organisations and invite them to come forward before we submit our report.

“We have invited the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency. We have written letters to them and they will appear before (the National Assembly’s) resumption.”

While the lawmakers will resume budget defence sessions for the MDAs on Tuesday, they will resume plenary on January 19.