By Our Correspondent
THE Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) has urged the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to halt the planned cancellation of the Trans Niger Pipeline Loopline Projects (TNPL) by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
The oil monitoring group, NDIMRC in a statement at the weekend by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, described as unfair the treatment being melted against the people of the Niger Delta region by SHELL.
Specifically, the group alerted the Petroleum Minister of alleged move by the company to cancel the Trans Niger Pipeline Loopline Projects (TNPL).
According to the group, the company was still playing dirty politics with the people of the Niger Delta region,, claiming the company was developing 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.
While insisting that the Company cannot cancel the projects expected to give a life line to the people of the region, the group said the company should be made to demonstrate strict compliance with the provision of Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act.
The group told the Petroleum Minister that; “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 life line 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.
According to the group, “Honourable Petroleum Minister, you need not be told that these projects if implemented will empower our communities and lead to massive economy 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.”
It added that “The Company, 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, but being frustrated by the multi-national oil companies such as SHELL. The Indigenous contractors that have fully invested and set to mobilize both human and financial resources for the TNPL must not be allowed to suffer this way in the hands of the almighty SHELL.”
The group urged the Minister to call the company to order now, saying that, “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 one 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,” it stated.
According to the group also, “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.”
They implored the Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, 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.
“Honourable Minister, we are proud of you because of your support to our people since you came on board, please, do not relent in assisting the Niger Delta people and our local oil and gas companies,” it stated.
They also used the medium to appeal 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, noting that; “The relocation of LNG office to the region will create employment opportunities or 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.”
“Honourable Minister, we will continue to stand by you because you are a jewel of inestimable value to your generation; the pride of the Niger Delta people in particular and Nigerians at large. You have done your people proud and Almighty God will see you through as you journey with President Goodluck Jonathan till the end of his tenure in 2019! We trust that you will call SHELL to order now as far as the TNPL is concerned,” NDIMRC said.
