Abuja, Jan.21, 2023 – The Senate has summoned the Group Chief Executive of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over the N48 billion pipeline surveillance contract awarded to stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions announced this on Friday.
Senator Ayo Akinyelure, the Chairman of the Senate Committe, said the Senate had summoned the NNPCL to defend itself over a petition by Isoko people alleging irregularities on a N48 billion contract on pipeline surveillance.
Senate said it had summoned the NNPCL to come and assure the Isoko people that the agency would do the needful to avoid economic sabotage by the aggrieved youths of the area.
The pipeline surveillance contract was awarded by the Federal Government to Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, a private maritime security firm founded by Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo an erstwhile Commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.
The Tompolo-owned firm was expected to protect all oil pipelines in the Niger Delta in collaboration with other major stakeholders in the oil communities.
Tompolo was to carry out the N4 billion monthly contract that covers Delta, Ondo, Imo, Rivers and some parts of Bayelsa State in collaboration with major tribes along the communities that host the oil pipelines.
However, the Isoko Community has petitioned the Senate alleging that their young men were not carried along in the implementation of multi-billion naira project.
The Isoko people, under the auspices of Interested Isoko Youth Groups, through a petition sent to the Senate on their behalf by one Stanley Okonmah, said they were completely marginalised in the contract award.
The lsoko Ethnic Nationality requested the Senate to probe the award of the contract and prevail on the NNPCL management to award a fresh contract to a company owned by an Isoko person.
The petition urged the Senate to look into the matter and urged the Minister of Petroleum Resources, while the NNPCL should correct the anomalies. (GBN)
