The senate has announced plans to conduct a “comprehensive” investigative hearing on the persistent challenges affecting Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Kawu Sumaila, chairman of the senate committee on petroleum (downstream), said the planned probe is aimed at identifying bottlenecks and proffering lasting solutions to the issues confronting the industry.
Sumaila said the decision followed resolutions reached at the committee’s recent retreat and aligns with its strategic action work plan covering the fourth quarter of 2025 to the fourth quarter of 2026.
He explained that the hearing would address major concerns within the downstream sector and bring all stakeholders together to discuss reforms that will strengthen transparency, competitiveness, and industrial harmony.
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“The Senate committee on downstream petroleum, pursuant to the resolutions of its recent retreat and in line with its strategic action work plan (Q4 2025–Q4 2026), hereby resolves to undertake a comprehensive investigative hearing on the current challenges in the downstream petroleum sector,” the statement reads.
“This investigative hearing has become imperative in view of (i) the lingering concerns surrounding the operations of private refineries, government-owned refineries, and independent marketers; (ii) ongoing disputes involving the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and other labour stakeholders; and (iii) allegations relating to crude oil supply obligations, regulatory overlaps, labour rights disputes, transparency, and competitiveness within the sector.”
The lawmaker said the committee would ensure that the process remains fair, transparent, and inclusive, with all stakeholders, including private refinery owners, government refineries, labour unions, regulators, civil society organisations, and other interested parties, given an opportunity to make submissions and express their concerns.
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“The outcome of this investigative hearing will guide the Senate in reshaping the roles of the regulatory agencies in resolving industrial disputes, understanding the future of the Nigerian downstream sector under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and addressing the concerns of independent petroleum marketers,” he said.
Sumaila added that the hearing would also focus on tackling systemic challenges in the sector, strengthening legislative and oversight mechanisms, safeguarding workers’ rights, promoting industrial harmony, and improving Nigeria’s energy security, transparency, and competitiveness.
