The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Representatives has kicked against the $1.5 billion budgeted for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, describing it as a scam, highly padded and an attempt by some unscrupulous elements of some to siphon the nation’s resources.
The caucus, in a statement by the Minority Leader of the House, Ndudi Elumelu on Tuesday, while further describing the figure as outrageous, called for an immediate review.
“This overbloated $1.5 billion cost has, again, brought to the fore the prevailing unpatriotic proclivity of treasury looting and criminal diversion of public funds through inflated contracts by officials of government for their selfish interests.
“It is completely unexplainable that the sum of $1.5 billion, belonging to Nigerians, is to be funneled towards the rehabilitation of a non-profitable refinery, which has already been slated to be handed over to private hands. As lawmakers, we firmly reject this attempt to use the refineries to further defraud our nation.
“In that regard, our caucus demands an immediate review of the project on a transparent and competitive cost template, while the billions of naira that would be recovered from the surplus, should be directed towards other areas of our national energy need.
‘Furthermore, the Minority Caucus calls for immediate decisive steps towards providing required incentives to private organizations who have shown manifest interest in establishing refineries in our country, as a sure step to meet our national energy need”, the PDP lawmakers said.
