Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (SDP, Nasarawa West) engaged in a heated exchange during Tuesday’s plenary session over the controversial operations of the Port Harcourt refinery.
Following the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)’s announcement last week that the refinery had commenced operations, doubts have been raised, with many questioning its actual functionality, including some industry experts.
During the plenary, Akpabio revealed plans to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the status of the refinery, a move that sparked further debate.
Senator Wadada took the floor, citing concerns over “technical issues” surrounding the refinery’s operations, and requested the Senate’s involvement to clarify the matter.
Akpabio countered, asserting that the government had already received praise for the refinery’s launch and suggested that Wadada present his concerns formally through a motion rather than via social media.
Wadada, visibly frustrated, responded, saying, “With all due respect, do not associate me with social media issues.”
The Nasarawa senator also criticized Akpabio for not addressing a revenue tax concern he raised months ago, which had not been acted upon.
In his defense, Akpabio responded, saying he had reviewed the document but reiterated that Wadada should formally present it during a plenary session.
Finally, Akpabio reaffirmed that the Senate would set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the refinery’s operational status, with findings to be discussed in a future session.
