09 April 2014, Abuja – From 2011-2013, there were huge discrepancies in yet to be disclosed volumes of kerosene discharged from vessels bearing the commodity.
This was the finding of the House of Representatives committee probing the kerosene subsidy regime within the period.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Dakuku Peterside (APC, Rivers), however, directed General Marine and Oil Services Limited (GMO), one of the vessel inspection firms it invited to submit such details on or before Thursday.
Also discovered were instances of imported Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) being discharged as kerosene.
According to Peterside, the committee discovered one such discrepancy in about 27,000 metric tonnes of kerosene.
He explained that a document presently before the committee, showed that of the 37,000 metric tonnes of kerosene shipped by a vessel, only 10,000 metric tonnes was actually discharged.
Fielding questions from the committee, a representative of GMO, Sam Obasi, said the company supervised a total of 106 import vessel within the 2011-2013 period.
It also monitored the trans-shipment of 458 mother vessel to marketers within the said period.
As the hearing continues today, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) as well as Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are among the agencies that are expected to make their presentation at the probe.
– This Day
