Akpabio, Wadada Clash During Plenary Over Port Harcourt Refinery Status

The Senate plenary on Tuesday saw a heated confrontation between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (SDP, Nasarawa West) over claims regarding the operational status of the Port Harcourt refinery.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had announced last week that the refinery had resumed operations. However, the announcement has been met with skepticism, with industry experts and the public questioning its validity.

During discussions on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), Senator Wadada raised concerns about what he termed “technicalities” surrounding the refinery’s operations and urged the Senate to investigate the matter.

In response, Akpabio suggested forming an ad hoc committee to probe the issue, emphasizing that concerns should be formally presented as motions, not “social media presentations.” This remark drew a sharp rebuke from Wadada, who retorted, “With due respect, don’t associate me with social media.”

Wadada further disclosed that he had submitted a written complaint to Akpabio three months earlier about revenue tax matters but received no action. Akpabio acknowledged the submission, reiterating that concerns must be raised through formal motions in plenary.

The Senate President assured members that the committee to investigate the refinery’s status would be formed in an executive session, signaling the chamber’s intent to address the controversy.

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