The Nigerian Senate has initiated a comprehensive inquiry into the ongoing challenges affecting the nation’s downstream petroleum industry. The investigation focuses on refinery inefficiencies, labour disputes, and issues surrounding transparency within the sector.
This probe is driven by the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), following strategic decisions made during their recent retreat. The investigation forms a key part of their Action Plan, which covers the period from the last quarter of 2025 through to the end of 2026.
In a press release issued on Thursday in Abuja, Kawu Sumaila, chairman of the committee and representative for Kano South, emphasized the urgency of addressing persistent problems linked to both private and government-run refineries, as well as independent petroleum marketers. The investigation also seeks to resolve ongoing conflicts involving major labour unions such as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), alongside other relevant labour groups. Furthermore, the inquiry will examine issues related to crude oil supply obligations, overlapping regulatory frameworks, workers’ welfare, transparency gaps, and the overall competitiveness of the downstream sector.
Sumaila highlighted that the committee’s primary objective is to pinpoint and address systemic inefficiencies while strengthening regulatory supervision across the downstream petroleum landscape.
He assured that the Senate will create an open and participatory platform, welcoming input from all stakeholders-including proprietors of private refineries, officials from government refineries, labour union leaders, regulatory authorities, civil society groups, and other interested parties-to express their views, raise concerns, and propose solutions.
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“Insights gained from this investigative process,” Sumaila stated, “will guide the Senate in redefining the roles of regulatory bodies, settling industrial disputes, enhancing accountability, and ensuring the downstream petroleum sector functions efficiently under the guidelines of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).”
He added that the committee’s efforts are geared towards safeguarding workers’ rights, promoting harmonious industrial relations, and strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and its position in the global oil market.