In response to their failure to attend an interactive session organized by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) projects of Nigerian refineries, the Senate has threatened to dismiss Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), along with other top executives of petroleum subsidiaries.
Senator Isah Jibrin, the Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee, expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of Kyari and other chief executive officers of the subsidiaries during the interactive session stating that from 2010 till date, an alarming sum of over N12 trillion has been spent on TAM, with no discernible improvement in the operational status of the refineries.
The committee is scrutinizing the TAM projects of Nigerian refineries, focusing on expenditures and the lack of positive outcomes. Records presented to the Senate reveal that over $592 million, €4.8 million, and £3.4 million were expended on TAM projects during the same period, raising concerns about the accountability and effectiveness of the funds.
Several key agencies were invited to the session, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and others. However, the chief executive officers of these agencies failed to appear in person, sending representatives instead.
In response to this non-compliance, Senator Jibrin threatened decisive action against the executives involved in the TAM projects, including possible dismissal and legal consequences. The Senate’s move reflects its commitment to holding accountable those responsible for the management and execution of critical projects, especially when public funds are involved. The ongoing investigation seeks to unravel the reasons behind the repeated failures in the TAM projects and to ensure transparency and efficiency in the country’s petroleum sector.
