The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to temporarily suspend Farouk Ahmed, the CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), amid ongoing investigations into allegations concerning his controversial remarks.
This decision emerged from a motion of urgent public importance, brought forward by Esosa Iyawe, the representative of Esosa Federal Constituency in Edo State, during Tuesday’s plenary. The motion highlighted the need to scrutinize Farouk’s comments regarding the country’s local refineries.
Iyawe emphasized to his colleagues that allegations of adulterated fuel in the Nigerian market warrant thorough investigation, as fuel quality significantly impacts engine performance. He noted that ultra-low sulfur diesel is recommended for various applications, including power plants, storage tanks, industrial facilities, fleets, heavy equipment, and ships, due to the detrimental effects of high sulfur content on engines and the environment.
The lawmaker explained that many countries have implemented stringent regulations to limit sulfur emissions, with diesel producers expected to comply. However, the NMDPRA currently allows local refiners to produce diesel with sulfur content up to 650 parts per million (ppm) until January 2025, as sanctioned by the Economic Community of West African States.
Iyawe cited Farouk’s claims that diesel from the Dangote Refinery was inferior to imported diesel, alleging sulfur content between 650 and 1,200 ppm. In response, Dangote called for an independent test supervised by the House of Representatives. The results revealed Dangote’s diesel had a sulfur content of 87.6 ppm, while the imported samples showed sulfur levels exceeding 1,800 ppm and 2,000 ppm, refuting Farouk’s allegations.
Concerns were raised that the NMDPRA might be issuing licenses to traders importing high-sulfur diesel, posing significant health risks and financial losses for Nigerians. Farouk’s unsubstantiated remarks, which have since been debunked, caused public outrage, with many accusing him of undermining local refineries and favoring fuel imports, viewed as economic sabotage due to the higher contamination levels in imported products.
Iyawe condemned Farouk’s statements as unprofessional and unpatriotic, especially amidst recent protests against the Federal Government. He noted that Farouk’s comments were made without prior investigation, exacerbating public discontent.
A joint committee of the House, comprising the Committees on Petroleum (Downstream and Midstream), commenced investigations on July 22, 2024, into Farouk’s allegations against Dangote Refinery. The panel is also conducting a legislative forensic investigation into issues such as the involvement of middlemen in crude trading and the lack of international standard laboratories to detect adulterated products, among other concerns.