The House of Representatives has called for the suspension of Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), pending a thorough investigation into allegations surrounding the Authority’s fuel quality standards.
The motion for Ahmed’s suspension, raised by Hon. Esosa Iyawe, highlighted urgent concerns over environmental and health risks associated with high levels of sulphur dioxide in diesel fuels. Iyawe criticized Ahmed’s comments regarding fuel quality, which he described as “unguarded” and misleading.
Iyawe stressed that sulphur dioxide is harmful to human health, potentially leading to respiratory issues, lung damage, and even cancer. He emphasized that ultra-low sulphur diesel is crucial for protecting engine performance and reducing air pollution. Despite this, Iyawe noted that the NMDPRA currently permits local refiners to produce diesel with up to 650 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur until January 2025, as sanctioned by ECOWAS.
The controversy intensified when Dangote Group, a major local refiner, requested a product test supervised by the House. The test revealed that Dangote’s diesel contained 87.6 ppm of sulphur, while imported diesel samples exceeded 1800 ppm and 2000 ppm, respectively. This discrepancy contradicted the NMDPRA chief’s allegations against local refiners.
Iyawe accused the NMDPRA of issuing licenses to traders who import high-sulphur diesel, thereby compromising public health and causing significant financial harm. He criticized Ahmed for making baseless statements without proper investigation, calling the act unprofessional and detrimental to national interests, especially amidst growing discontent and protests against the Federal Government.
