APC Asks Buhari To Discard Petroleum Industry Bill, Discontinue Fuel Subsidy Regime
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to discard the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), cancel ongoing offshore processing agreements and discontinue the fuel subsidy regime.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to discard the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), cancel ongoing offshore processing agreements and discontinue the fuel subsidy regime.
In its recommendation to the President, the APC also stated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is indebted to its eight joint venture (JV) partners to the tune of $3.5 billion (about N7 billion) stating that the debts have ballooned over the years.
“These debts are costly and opaque, and they erode the NNPC’s bargaining power with the oil companies. Nigeria’s inability to fund its joint-venture budgets is delaying projects, reducing production, and lowering revenue collection for the nation,” details of the report obtained from Bloomberg, quoted the APC to have said. The NNPC reportedly paid $6.9 billion out of the $10.4 billion it owed.
The APC further recommended that the president sell off some subsidiaries of NNPC, discard the PIB and replace it with a new Bill that is based on discussions with international oil companies to ensure all perspectives are adequately considered.
The report advised the Presidency to cancel, within his first 100 days in office two ill-suited and costly offshore processing agreements that were signed in the fourth quarter with Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Limited and Sahara Group of 90,000 barrels per day each.
It also called on the government to sign simpler swap agreements with highly competent trading companies through a tender process.
Chat212 reports further that the APC report recommended a review of audits and corruption allegations against the NNPC, within the first 100 days of the administration. The party further recommended that after 18 months, the government should seek to commercialize the NNPC, possibly partially listing the entity and selling off its fuel-retailing and refining business.
