Senate rejects NMDPRA petrol import figures, summons NNPCL and NEITI

Background The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has been reviewing data on the country’s petrol imports after a 2021‑2023 audit report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) raised questions about the volume of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) entering Nigeria.

Discrepancies in Import Figures According to the committee’s findings, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) reported that 3.29 billion litres of petrol were imported in 2022 and 6.02 billion litres in 2023. In contrast, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recorded 6.27 billion litres for 2022 and 3.88 billion litres for 2023. The gap between the two sets of figures is substantial, prompting the committee to question the accuracy of the records.

Senate Committee Response The committee rejected the NMDPRA’s figures, describing the differences as “wide” and not merely “slight.” NMDPRA officials appeared before the committee on Wednesday to address the queries raised by NEITI’s audit. They maintained that their figures were correct, noting that the discrepancies were being investigated for possible reconciliation. However, committee members expressed concern that the variations were too large to be dismissed as minor.

Next Steps Following the rejection, the committee resolved to summon the heads of NMDPRA, NNPCL and NEITI for a joint meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to reconcile the conflicting data and to determine the reasons behind the discrepancies. The Senate’s action reflects a broader effort to improve transparency and accountability in the country’s petroleum sector.

Implications The dispute over import figures highlights challenges in tracking petroleum volumes in Nigeria. Accurate data are essential for policy decisions, revenue collection and market regulation. The upcoming meeting is expected to clarify the situation and to reinforce the integrity of the country’s petroleum data systems.