The Senate has deferred its investigative hearing into alleged sabotage in the petroleum industry, originally scheduled for September 10-12, 2024.

The decision was made to allow for wider consultations with stakeholders and to ensure a more comprehensive approach to the investigation.

According to a statement from the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, the Senate Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, decided to postpone the hearing after consulting with members and key actors in the petroleum industry.

The committee aims to add value to the investigation by incorporating input from a broader range of stakeholders.

The Senate had established the ad-hoc committee to investigate various issues in the petroleum industry, including maintenance costs of refineries, regulatory agency payments, and alleged importation of hazardous products.

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The committee had already conducted pre-investigation activities and held an interactive session with relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as private interests in the downstream and midstream petroleum sector.

Senator Bamidele explained that the postponement was necessary to consult more widely with stakeholders, considering the prevailing realities in the country that demand urgent interventions from various sectors.

He assured stakeholders that a new date for the public hearing would be communicated in due course, and that the decision was taken in the national interest to ensure a holistic approach to finding lasting solutions to the challenges facing the petroleum sector.