A dreaded Niger Delta militant group, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), has threatened showdown with the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited(NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, over the alleged secret award of pipeline maintenance contracts to some Northern oil contractors and the exclusion of Niger Delta contractors.
According to the RNDA, despite the fact that the multi-billion dollar pipeline maintenance and rehabilitation contract is meant to build operate and supply refined petroleum products to the nation’s depots and transfer of crude oil from the creek to the nation’s refineries located in the Niger Delta region, the CEO of NNPCL, Mr. Mele Kyari secretly awarded pipeline maintenance contracts and hands over the nation’s crude oil pipelines to AA Rano and other Northern oil companies over and above Niger Deltans and deliberately for selfish interest.
In a statement that the RNDA issued on Monday after an emergency meeting of nine militant groups convened by ‘Major General’ Johnmark Ezonebi it threatened to sabotage the secretly awarded contract, explaining that the LOT 2 was awarded to AA RANO which comprises from Escravos- Warri crude oil pipeline (60km); Warri- Benin products pipeline (90km); Benin- Ore pipeline products (110km) which is Escravos Terminal products crude pipeline to Warri Refinery to Benin products pipeline to Ore depot.
According to him,”while the LOT 4 is awarded to MRS Oil Company owned Sayyu Dantata covering from Atlas Cove products crude pipeline depot satellite depot comprising Mosimi- Ore products pipeline (151.3km), Ibadan depot, Ilorin depot, Ibadan-Ilorin products pipeline (168.9km), Atlas Cove-Mosimi/Satellite products pipeline (72.8km) Mosimi depot, Mosimi- Ibadan products pipeline (79.1) which is the juiciest LOT among all, was handed over to MRS Oil Company owned by Sayyu Dantata.
“While the LOT 1 was awarded to Oilserve company Limited owned by Engr. Dr. Emeka Okwuosa an Igbo man, comprising the Bonny- Port Harcourt crude oil pipeline (54.8km); Port Harcourt – Aba- Enugu products pipeline (210km); Port Harcourt depot, Aba depot and Enugu depot. Port Harcourt Refinery -Bonny Export Terminal products pipeline (35km); Bonny Export Terminal -Loading Jetty products pipeline (32km) to Bonny Export Terminal facilities. And it is this same man that is currently handling the (614km long AKK Gas pipeline being developed by the NNPCL from Escravos Crude line in the creek.”
He said: “The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers with the coalition of the nine militant groups that make up the RNDA, have decided and declared resumption of attacks and destruction of pipelines and other oil and gas installations along Trans-Escravos-Warri Refinery with other NNPC major delivery lines in the creek of Niger Delta if Mele Kyari refuses to back down from awarding these multi-billion pipeline maintenance, rehabilitation, rebuild, operate and transfer of refined petroleum products and crude oil to the nation’s refineries contract job that was secretly awarded in favour of his Northern brothers from Kano State.
“We may descend on crippling the economy of the nation and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians should hold Mele Kyari, AA RANO, MRS and others responsible from the aftermath of this declaration.
“We are deeply pained and have no other option than to resort to hostilities that Nigeria has never experienced in the creeks of the Niger Delta region if Mele Kyari go ahead with his wicked plan of undermining and total neglect of Niger Delta oil companies, and we are going all out to stop the nepotic award of secret contract on the Trans Escravos- Warri Refinery to Benin Depot Pipeline maintenance, rebuild and transfer of refined petroleum products contract job in favour of AA RANO by Mr. Mele Kyari who is operating a cartel of oil Northerners at the NNPC towers and we assume that Mr. Kyari is an enemy to the Niger Delta people.
“We will not allow these contract Kyari have awarded to AA Rano, MRS and others to see the light of the day. We have started mobilizing our strike force to strategic pipeline locations and depot to ensure nothing is carried out by AA Rano.
“We also strongly warn Mr. Mele Kyari and AA Rano not to test our silence and patience for granted and it would be good for them to stay where they are if not they will regret going to the various sites of these project.”
Alleged secret award of NNPCL pipeline maintenance contract to northern cartels: Niger Delta militants group threatens fire and brimstone
