Some NGOs in Nigeria have alleged that according to information sought by them, over two years after the multi-billion Naira contracts were awarded to Macready Oil and Gas Services Limited, nothing had reportedly been on the ground.
The NGOs are Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiative (DEDASRI), with its partner, Media Awareness Advocacy Foundation (MAWA-Foundation).
The NGOs stated that following investigations, they had on January 9 this year, through their lawyer, Samuel Ogala, requested NNPCL to provide them with details of the contracts for maintenance of Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline 604km; Kaduna –Kano products pipeline 224.3km; Kaduna- Jos products pipeline 116.4km; Kaduna-Suleja products pipeline 170.8km; Kaduna depot, Kano depot, Jos depot and Suleja depot.
Also requested by the organizations in their letter, brought under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, were locations of contracts, amounts, releases and completion dates.
NNPC responded through its lawyer, Esther Jesudunmo Longe, stating that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 made it a private company, and was no longer under any obligation to respond to FOI requests.
“Financial institution or bank, and therefore, not in possession of bank statement of payments made to Macready Oil and Gas Service Company Limited,” the firm added.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of DEDASRI, Ogechukwu Enwelum, said negates the commitment of NNPCL to contract transparency and accountability as a supporting company to Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) implementation in Nigeria.
Adding that the request was for clarity purpose as her team had visited rehabilitation sited and held talk with community leaders to clearify issues sorrounding the contract.
