Experts open up on mismanagement of more than $2.9 billion for refinery construction

1 week ago 11
  • Energy and economical experts person reacted arsenic the country's lipid concern is erstwhile again astatine the halfway of a large corruption topic
  • Investigations and arrests person been made successful transportation with the misappropriation of astir $2.9 cardinal meant for refinery restoration
  • Investigations are underway into the $1.56 cardinal fixed to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740 cardinal to Kaduna, and $656 cardinal to Warri

Legit.ng writer Zainab Iwayemi has 5-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.

As investigations and arrests related to the mismanagement of much than $2.9 cardinal intended for refinery rehabilitation proceed to stone Nigeria, the country's lipid manufacture is erstwhile again astatine the epicenter of a monolithic corruption storm.

Mismanagement of Over $2.9 Billion for Refinery ConstructionThe EFCC precocious arrested respective high-ranking erstwhile executives from the refineries successful Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. Photo Credit: NNPC
Source: Getty Images

Energy and economical experts person demanded a thorough investigation, punctual prosecution of those responsible, and extended reforms to halt a recurrence.

A fig of high-ranking erstwhile executives from the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries were precocious arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) connected suspicion of fiscal irregularities successful the multibillion-dollar rehabilitation projects.

BusinessDay reported that Efifia Chu, the erstwhile managing manager of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Ibrahim Onoja, the erstwhile managing manager of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, are among those detained.

The $1.56 cardinal allotted to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740 cardinal to Kaduna, and $656 cardinal to Warri are the taxable of investigations.

Nigerians react

Alex Nnaemeka, a specializer successful economics, responded to the concern by saying that anti-graft organizations specified arsenic the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the EFCC request to bash much than conscionable marque superficial inquiries.

In bid to purify the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and enactment arsenic a informing to others, helium emphasized the necessity of identifying and expelling collaborators who are inactive serving.

As a substance of nationalist interest, helium said, the concern necessitates the apprehension of each suspects.

“Hopefully they cooperate, and if recovered guilty, they wage for their crimes,” helium added.

Nnaemeka besides highlighted the inequality betwixt communities that nutrient lipid and different areas that nett from it, complaining that portion the Niger Delta continues to unrecorded successful poverty, officials successful the North and West look to beryllium embezzling the money.

The events that are transpiring are not lone concerning, but besides a scathing indictment of systemic nonaccomplishment wrong Nigeria's lipid sector, according to a specializer successful the vigor assemblage who provided commentary connected the matter.

The adept contended that astatine slightest 2 brand-new modular refineries with cutting-edge exertion and accrued accumulation ratio mightiness person been constructed with the $2.96 cardinal nether inquiry.

Additionally, helium denounced the caller find of N80 cardinal successful a suspect's idiosyncratic slope account, claiming it was an evident denotation of regulatory and interior power shortcomings.

He called specified statements "political theater" and questioned the erstwhile authoritative communicative that the refineries were starting up astatine 70% capacity.

Testimonies from works employees and tract reports bespeak that the facilities person remained mostly inoperable.

The refineries successful Warri and Port Harcourt are fundamentally incapable to nutrient Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) due to the fact that they deficiency catalytic reforming equipment, which are indispensable for this process.

The adept attributed this to deceptive nationalist communications and inadequate task planning.

Mismanagement of Over $2.9 Billion for Refinery ConstructionThe $1.56 cardinal allotted to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740 cardinal to Kaduna, and $656 cardinal to Warri are the taxable of investigations. Photo Credit: Contributor
Source: Getty Images

The prime to renovate decades-old refineries without archetypal guaranteeing the availability of pipes for crude transportation was besides denounced by economical expert Godwin Ekpe.

He emphasized that the refineries would ne'er beryllium profitable without operational feedstock infrastructure, specified arsenic the Escravos-to-Kaduna pipeline.

Building smaller, modular refineries that are suited to Nigeria's contiguous marketplace demands would person been a amended prudent choice, according to Ekpe.

He urged a broad introspection of the NNPCL's and its erstwhile Group CEO Mele Kyari's roles, pointing to a past of media manipulation, fiscal mismanagement, and nationalist deceit.

He called connected the authorities to transportation retired a forensic audit of the procurement procedure, contractor involvement, task milestones, and the money spent.

The ongoing contented is made worse by enactment idiosyncratic threats of going connected strike, according to nationalist affairs specializer Ekweribe Odo.

Reps analyse NNPC, lipid steadfast implicit $1.6bn indebtedness

Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and lipid businesses' unpaid debts to the Federation Account are the taxable of an investigation launched by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee connected Tuesday, February 18.

Following inquiries from the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation astir NNPCL's fiscal responsibilities, the subcommittee chairman, Akinlade Isiaq, presided implicit the investigative hearing.

According to the reports, NNPCL and different lipid companies owed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission $1.6 cardinal successful royalties arsenic of the extremity of 2021 nether the presumption of the Modified Carry Arrangement, Repayment Agreement, and Production Sharing Contract.

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Source: Legit.ng

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