BEING AN EXPOSURE BY THE NIGERIAN TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE ON THE ONGOING CORRUPTION WITHIN NIGERIA”S OIL AND GAS SECTOR.
Our attention has been drawn to certain developments in the oil and gas sector regarding moves by some elements within the Federal Government to undo some of the critical decisions taken by the previous administration aimed at growing the Nigerian economy and make it competitive globally.
We would not have taken the moves of these elements with a pinch of salt except for some uncontrovertible evidence at our disposal. First, we believe the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the interest of the masses at heart, and would do anything to protect such interests especially by safeguarding the oil and gas industry upon which the economy of the country stands. Secondly, the oil and gas sector over the years had experienced lots of challenges ranging from oil thefts to vandalism of infrastructures, corruption and abuses. We are also aware that efforts have been made to sanitise the sector, encourage investments and expand the infrastructures to accommodate growth and development necessary to pull back the nation’s economy from the brinks of precipice!
As critical stakeholders, we are alarmed that each time the government takes decisions to move the oil and gas sector forward, some vested interests would begin to create problems to frustrate government decisions and cripple the entire sector. Such unpatriotic moves have also sent wrong signals to would-be investors, both local and international, who watched from sidelines if their investments would be safe in the country in view of prevailing scenarios.
It is in respect of the foregoing that we want to let the public know, and especially Mr President, that in 2023, the Federal Executive Council approved the appointment of PRE-SHIPMENT INSPECTOR S AND MONITORING/EVALUATION AGENTS for crude oil and gas exports under the Nigerian Export Supervision scheme.
The whole process was approved by FEC and taken to the Federal Ministry of Finance for implementation.
The Presidential approval was secured following compliance with due process in line with the provision of the public procurement Act, 2007. The government approved nine consultants out of about 81 who applied. The approval was based on their past antecedents and experience as well as professional competence.
It should be noted that part of the qualification during the bidding process, was that all the bidders must establish laboratories and offices in Warri, Portharcourt and Lagos, which they are all did.
The nine companies approved by the Federal Government are as follows:
1 TROBELL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
2 TRUST GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED
3 KEPCHEREN
4 ROBINSON INTERNATIONAL ENERGY LIMITED
5 MARYDEL NIGERIA LIMITED
6 CANDID OIL SERVICES
7 BEECHSTONE LIMITED
8 GENERAL MARINE AND OIL SERVICES LIMITED
9 PATBON SERVICES LIMITED
After the approval, the Companies together with their foreign partners began extensive works to carry out their mandates, trusting that stability, transparency and decorum have returned to the sector due to the painstaking and transparent processes and procedures followed during the bidding periods. The companies were also of the belief that since government is a continuous process, their investments in the sector will be protected irrespective of the stance of future government, more so when all constitutional procedures have been followed, and the processes leading to government approval adjudged as most transparent by international best standards and practices.
But unfortunately, information at our disposal points to some negative tendencies within the present regime bent on sabotaging the laudable foundation already laid regarding the approval of the pre-shipment inspection to companies that duly qualified for it. This would no doubt create a set back, erode investors confidence and stiffen the growth and development of the sector.
It is in the over all interest of the country, especially now that the present government is making frantic efforts to revamp the economy that we appeal to such vested interests to stop forthwith their parochial schemings to cancel the already approved contracts, and later award same to their cronies and lankies.
We have been told that officials with vested interests in the Presidential Villa, spearheaded by the Chief of Staff to Mr President, are trying to reverse the approval and drop the approved consultants in order to bring in their preferred agents through the back door. We believe this moves would be counter productive and inimical to the efforts of President Bola Tinubu to attract investors into the country. The President has in recent times travelled to Europe and Asia to woo investors, nothing should be done to sabotage his efforts.
When we learnt specifically that the Chief of staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila is the mastermind of the plot to drop the approved consultants, we considered the information as fake. However, on further investigation, more critical facts emerged that Hon Gbajabiamila has in fact lined up his preferred companies for the assignment.
Furthermore, a circular obtained from the office of the Minister of Finance shows that the Monitoring and Evaluation Agents(MEAs) that were approved by the Federal Government, are being replaced with new companies that were not part of the bidding process. Most worrisome is the fact that the companies didn’t go through the public procurement process. This is very unhealthy for the industry.
It is most pathetic that the same companies have not been remitting any revenue to the federal government coffers. This should not be allowed to stand.
It is the belief of critical stakeholders that if the elements succeed in their unpatriotic agenda, the outcome would be unpalatable for the economy because it would erode investors confidence, create distrust in the system as all the nine approved consultants already have their foreign partners on ground and have invested heavily in setting up their offices as required by law.
We therefore call on President Bola Tinubu to wade into the matter and prevail on his CoS, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila not to dabble into already settled matter.
We also appeal to Mr President to keep a close watch on developments in the oil and gas sector, especially aspects that deal with pre-shipment inspection because whatever happens in the sector alert the international investors and partners on how serious we are as a country in protecting national assets, infrastructures, and agreements.
We want to commend Mr President so far for the aggressive measures he has taken to revamp the economy. He promised to hit the ground running. So far he has not disappoint. And on the issues we raised, Mr President, please, do not disappoint.
SIGNED:
SANI AHMAD: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
HENRY NWOSU: GENERAL SECRETARY
