Reps Launch Probe into $35m Modular Refinery Project
The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to investigate the state of the $35m modular petroleum refinery in Brass, Bayelsa State.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Billy Osawaru, an Edo lawmaker, at Wednesday’s plenary session.
It’s titled, ‘Motion of urgent public importance on the need to investigate the abandoned $35m modular refinery project in Brass, Bayelsa State, four years after a huge financial commitment to that effect.’
The project, a 2,000-barrel-per-day project, is being handled by the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
The modular refinery is intended to boost the nation’s crude oil production, enhance local refineries, encourage indigenous participation in content development, and create jobs in the petroleum industry.
Although construction was expected to commence in 2021, there are reports that the project has become a subject of investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged fraudulent practices.
In 2020, the NCDMB invested $35m in the project, but according to Osawaru, “Despite this huge investment, which is more than N50bn and enough to fund fundamental components of the national budget, the proposed modular refinery that was to be known as Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited was never set up.
“Nothing is on the ground to show that huge financial commitments had been made.”
Drawing attention to the substance of the motion, Osawaru, who represents the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, Edo State, recalled that the House had initiated a patriotic move to unravel the mystery behind the wastage by mandating the relevant committee to investigate this monumental economic sabotage.
He lamented that despite these moves, “Nothing has been heard in respect of the subject matter.”
He continued, “In May 2024, a stakeholder submitted a petition to the EFCC urging the anti-graft organisation to probe the multi-million-dollar investments made by the NCDMB, among which was the Atlantic Refinery project.
“Despite this noble move by the said stakeholder, nothing has been heard about this profound national waste from almost a year ago.
“We are worried that the continued inactivity of this Brass modular refinery project raises significant questions about the management of public funds and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in Nigeria.”
The motion, when put to a voice vote by the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over Wednesday’s plenary, was overwhelmingly supported by the lawmakers.
Consequently, the House referred the motion to its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) for further legislative action.
The committees have four weeks to submit their report to the House.