The Publisher of Swift Reporters has faulted the statement by the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives over the $1.5 billion approved for rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, Adewole reminded the “Minority Caucus” that the Joint Ad-hoc Committee of the National Assembly on 24th February, 2021 expressed regrets over the poor condition of the nation’s refineries and pledged their support to revive the refineries to function optimally.
“I am not surprised that the Ndudi Elumelu-led caucus could say that the “cost analysis indicates a huge scam and a ploy by unscrupulous elements to hide under the guise of rehabilitation of the refinery to siphon public funds.”
“I challenge the Minority Caucus to go on oversight visit of not only the Port Harcourt Refinery but other Refineries across the country and give Nigerians their feedback, Adewole said.
He further challenged the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives to show evidences that the proposed expenditure is outrageous and heavily inflated.
“I wish to remind the Minority Caucus that the project was transparently bided for and the original builder of the Refinery recommended Tecnimont for the execution of the rehabilitation at the reasonable amount, which is very considerate.
“With the project monitoring team put in place by the Federal Government, the rehabilitation will surely be completed as there will be no room for corrupt individuals to fleece the nation.
“I expected them as Minority to reject the rehabilitation but I will advise them to follow the part of honour of the Joint Ad-hoc Committee of the National Assembly by poising to pass the Petroleum Bill as soon as possible.
He said: “The main focus of the Bill was to entrench reformation of all the nation’s refineries to international standard, noting that there as the need to make the country’s refineries more competitive.
“The main thrust of the PIB is to reform our oil and gas industry, to make it more competitive and bring their operation in tandem with international best practices.
“I urge the Minority Caucus to rather work towards the passage of the long-awaited PIB as the bill will bring to an end the capital flight rather than calling the timely rehabilitation fraud, Adewole said.
