By Kassim Omomia
The House of Representatives is to launch a probe into 16.1milion barrels unaccounted crude allocated under the Direct sale direct Purchase scheme, DSDP, scheme.

Similarly, it is investigating USD 339million allegedly unaccounted for from the said volumes sold at an average price of  $65 for the Nigerian crude  in 2018, in a resolution it passed after debating a motion of urgent public importance.

In adopting the motion, the House passed a resolution to set-up an ad-hoc committee to investigate all Allocation of crude oil under DSDP scheme from 2018 till date, as well as Crude oil allocation per refineries and the rationale for such allocation, in addition to seeking to know what happened to the un-utilized stock of crude oil in the case of a refinery with inadequate production capacity.

Debating the motion brought under matters of urgent public importance, titled “Urgent need to investigate the allocation of crude under the Direct Sale Direct Purchase, DSDP, scheme, sponsored by, Honorable Abubakar Makki Yalleman, the House expressed worries over media reports on how Nigeria’s crude oil is being stolen or diverted daily.

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According to the reports, approximately 5.2 million barrels of crude oil supposedly allocated to comatose NNPC refineries in 2018 under Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) operations are unaccounted for.

“Essentially, almost half of the 10.9 million barrels of crude oil allocated for domestic supply between June 2018 and July 2019 as reported by the NNPC is either stolen or diverted”, it added.

Arguing further, the lawmakers, noted that the average price for Nigerian crude oil in 2018 was $65 which means that the unaccounted volume may have denied the country USD339 million at a time of acute revenue deficit.

Flowing from the revelation, the legislators said that they would want to know, among others from the probe it launched: The status of the 5.2 million barrels allocated for domestic supply in 2018 till date: Crude oil allocation per refineries and the rationale for such allocation.

Similarly, they are asking, that in a case of inadequate production capacity, what happens to unutilized stock of crude oil?

The House members particularly are concerned at the spate of missing critical national revenue and conclude that unless the leakages are plugged, the alleged fraudulent acts will deepen the national deficit and further deprive Nigeria from the much-needed development.