The Senate on Wednesday summoned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC in its bid to examine the current state of the nation’s four refineries.

The motion which was introduced by Gbenga Ashafa, Lagos East senatorial district, sought for the Senate to act in respect of the perennial fuel tanker tragedies on Nigerian highways.

Ashafa in his summation noted that within one week, four fuel tanker accidents occurred in two major cities in Nigeria, noting that many lives were lost and properties destroyed.

Ashafa opined that the tragedies would not have occurred if the country had fully functional refineries.

“If our refineries were functional, all the tankers in Nigeria would not have businesses coming to Lagos to lift fuel as refineries in Port-Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna would have taken care of that,” he said.

Senate President Bukola Saraki in his submission assured the nation that the legislators would examine the situation with a view of proffering solution.

It would be recalled that over 70 persons lost their lives at Upper Iweka, Onitsha and Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos in accidents involving fuel tankers.