The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) is Investigating the huge investments into the Turn Around Maintenance of the nation's major refineries and why the exercise has not yielded the desired results leading to a plan to sell them. 

The Committee also announced that it was investigating the bottlenecks associated with obtaining crude by local and modular refineries, and why local refiners should travel to Switzerland to negotiate obtaining crude locally. 

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Chairman of the Committee, Ikenga Ugochinyere said it is disturbing that after the hype that greeted the return of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries to production status, they had to shut down again. 

According to him, the House intends to find out what went wrong especially when considered against the backdrop that the company handling the turnaround maintenance is a reputable company, adding that before considering whether or not the refineries should either be sold or privatised, the House will find out what went wrong. 

 Ugochinyere said the House Committee has received several petitions on issues affecting the petroleum sector, adding that the Committee will find a permanent solution to the issue, especially when it has to do with providing stock for modular and other local refineries. 

He added that the Committee will also investigate the issue of the incorporation of Artisanal Miners into the petroleum refining value chain, following complaints that the experience of such persons will be eroded if they are excluded. 

Another investigation by the committee, he said is the alleged abandonment of the Biomass Ethane project as well as allegation and counter allegation over the continued importation of fuel and protection of local refiners- legislative solutions. 

He also announced that the House intends to hold the inaugural edition of annual Downstream Petroleum Week event beginning from October 2, 2025.

Ugochinyere assured that the House will not allow any monopoly in the oil sector of the country.

He assured that all the sub committees set up will fast-tracking the investigation of pending referrals to the Committee, address crucial matters and developments that have arisen, which threaten sustainability in the downstream sector, with a view to making the downstream sector stronger and more viable.

Ugochinyere said the committee will also reopen investigation into the acquisition of OVH and the complaints from NNPC Retail Staff, adding that the House had rejected the report of an earlier investigation into the matter and ordered the committee to reopen the matter.