Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday announced Ned Nwoko, Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, as the new Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee reviewing turnaround maintenance at the country’s refineries.
Nwoko succeeded Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died on July 27, 2024, in London, United Kingdom.
Recall that the ad-hoc committee was constituted by the Akpabio-led Senate on October 24, 2023, in response to complaints about cash spent on refinery upkeep while the nation’s refining capacity remained stable.
The committee was tasked with investigating turnaround maintenance at Federal Government-owned refineries, including assessing all contracts awarded for their rehabilitation.
Late Ubah, upon his appointment, had committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and thoroughness in the probe.
He stated, “Our goal is to uncover any mismanagement, corruption, or inefficiencies in the turnaround maintenance of the refineries and contract awards.”
He further stressed the need for site visits, stakeholder involvement, and obtaining relevant information to provide full recommendations to the Senate.
Nwoko’s appointment comes after he decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Party, APC, over what he described as irreconcilable intra-party conflict.
