Senate panel postpones hearing on alleged sabotage in petroleum sector

The Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry yesterday announced the postponement of its public hearing scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who doubles as the ad hoc committee’s Chairman, announced this in a statement in Abuja.

He said the postponement was done to enable the committee consult widely with relevant stakeholders whose input and participation would add value to the conclusion of the investigative hearing.

The Senate Leader also cited legislative exigencies aimed at further deepening due diligence in the conduct of the investigative hearing as another reason for deferring the hearing.

The Senate set up the ad hoc committee to investigate humongous funds spent on maintaining the nation’s refineries; beam searchlight on the regulatory agencies over payment to transporters and unravel alleged importation of hazardous petroleum products and dumping of substandard diesel into the country.

According to the statement, the ad hoc committee has concluded its pre-investigation undertakings and held an interactive session with the heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government as well as some private interests in the downstream and midstream petroleum sector.

After the exhaustive engagement with select MDAs and private oil firms, the ad hoc committee had subsequently scheduled its investigative hearing for tomorrow and Thursday.

Bamidele said: “While we deeply regret all inconveniences it may have caused all the stakeholders collectively or individually, this decision was taken purely and solely in the national interest.”