…Urges Diezani, NNPC To Halt Move
…Wants LNG Headquarters Relocated To Niger Delta
BEVERLY HILLS, August 03, (THEWILL) – Niger Delta oil monitoring group, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC), has alleged plot by Shell to cancel the Trans Niger Pipeline Loopline Projects (TNPL) over moves to award the project to local contractors in the Niger Delta region.
According to the group, Shell had suddenly developed cold feet towards the Trans Niger Pipeline Loopline Projects because they are to be awarded to local contractors that have invested heavily on capacity building over the years in the oil rich region.
Alerting the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, of the development, the group in a statement urged the Minister to use her good offices to stop Shell from cancelling the project.
Signed by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, the group alleged that Shell was treating the people of the Niger Delta region unfairly, accused Anglo-Dutch oil major of allegedly “playing dirty politics” with the people of the Niger Delta region.
The statement said that Shell should be made to comply with the provision of Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act which encourages local contractors in the region.
“Shell, for reasons best known to its management in The Hague, is about cancelling the Trans Niger Pipeline Loopline Projects already approved by you, claiming that the Federal Government delayed the approval of the TNPL.
“We dare say that the company cannot cancel these projects and the company should be made to demonstrate strict compliance with the provisions of Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act,” the group said.
The group claimed its findings revealed that the projects expected to give a lifeline to the people of the Niger Delta region and other Nigerians may not see the light of the day as a result of the “dirty politics” being played by the company.
“Honourable Petroleum Minister, you need not be told that these projects if implemented will empower our communities and lead to massive economic growth in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
“But sad enough, Shell, if not checked now, will cancel these all-important projects. Hence, we insist that the company should be called to order now.
“Shell, according to our investigation is developing cold feet towards the Trans Niger Pipeline Loopline Projects (TNPL) because they are to be awarded to local contractors that have invested heavily on capacity building over the years in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
“The indigenous contractors that have fully invested and set to mobilise both human and financial resources for the TNPL must not be allowed to suffer this way in the hands of the almighty Shell.
“Because, if these projects were to be awarded to foreign contractors such as Saipem, Samsung, Daewoo and OPI, the company would have long before now done so, but since our local contractors are deeply involved, the company is not willing to go on with the projects any more.
“Honourable Minister, if not for anything, the company must be put back on track fast and go ahead with the TNPL as our checks revealed that the local contractors to be awarded the projects have met all the requirements.
“The people of the Niger Delta region have suffered for too long and we are not going to accept a situation where Shell will continue to add to the pains of our people.
“We know that the company cannot behave in this cruel manner to its people back home in The Hague and because Saipem failed to win the bid for the TNPL, Shell has decided to punish our local contractors and poverty-stricken people of the Niger Delta region for it.
“Honourable Minister, we want to let you know that Saipem is always doing this to our indigenous contractors once it failed to pick some juicy contracts in the region and the company is at it again with Shell.
“We implore our Honourable Minister, to watch out for Saipem that is always being awarded projects not approved by the Board,” the group stated.
It also implored the Minister, the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Joseph Dawha; the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Ernest Nwapa and the Group General Manager of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) to prevail on Shell not to cancel the TNPL expected to boost the economy and encourage indigenous contractors to grow in the oil and gas industry.
Meanwhile, the group has appealed to the Petroleum Minister to direct that the office of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) should be moved to either Port-Harcourt, capital of Rivers State; Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State or the oil-rich city of Warri in Delta State.
“The relocation of LNG office to the region will create employment opportunities for our people as that of NCDMB in Yenagoa is currently doing. The region is blessed with natural gas and LNG has no reason to have its office outside the region,” the group said.
