The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have stated that Nigerians deserve safe, standard-compliant fuel, transparent regulation, and accountable governance, as they called for an immediate, full-scale, and independent investigation into the regulatory activities of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The call followed the resignation of the former Chief Executive of the Authority, Engr. Farouk Ahmed. The groups, comprising the CNPP and more than 75 civil society organisations under the CNCSOs, said the resignation should not bring public scrutiny to an end but should instead trigger a comprehensive forensic probe into the operations of the NMDPRA during his tenure.
In a joint statement signed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, Mr. James Ezema, and the National Secretary of the CNCSOs, Alhaji Ali Abacha, the organisations urged an investigation into regulatory decisions, approvals, and enforcement lapses, particularly in relation to the quality of imported refined petroleum products into the country.
They expressed concern over the continued circulation of substandard imported petrol (Premium Motor Spirit) and diesel nationwide, allegedly in violation of the ECOWAS Directive C/DIR.1/9/2020 on Harmonised Specifications for Motor Fuels, which took effect on January 1, 2021. According to the statement, Nigeria, as a leading ECOWAS member state, is obligated to comply with the directive, but available evidence, the groups claimed, points to widespread non-compliance and regulatory negligence.
The organisations further alleged that intelligence gathered by them indicates compromises within the NMDPRA during Engr. Ahmed’s tenure, which may have enabled the importation, approval, and distribution of petroleum products below ECOWAS harmonised standards. They said the alleged lapses have resulted in vehicle damage, higher maintenance costs, increased environmental pollution, and serious public safety risks for millions of Nigerians.
The CNPP and CNCSOs also raised concerns over the role of relevant National Assembly committees responsible for oversight of the midstream and downstream petroleum sector. They called for a thorough investigation into the effectiveness, integrity, and scope of legislative oversight exercised over the NMDPRA within the period under review.
The organisations disclosed that their Joint Intelligence Committee would soon unveil findings on alleged fuel quality violations, regulatory lapses, import approval processes, and oversight failures at a press conference to be held in Abuja on a later date.
Among their demands are a full-scale independent probe into the regulatory activities of the NMDPRA under Engr. Farouk Ahmed, a comprehensive investigation into the quality of petrol and diesel imported and dispensed in Nigeria from January 1, 2021 to date, and a forensic review of the oversight roles of relevant National Assembly committees. They also called for the public disclosure of all findings and the prosecution of individuals and institutions found culpable, regardless of political status or influence.
The CNPP and CNCSOs warned that continued fuel quality violations amount to economic crimes, consumer rights abuses, environmental hazards, and serious threats to public safety, stressing that any attempt to treat the resignation of the former NMDPRA boss as closure would be firmly resisted.