The federal government has been advised to activate existing oil metering contracts to minimise duplication and potential income loss.
The Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) issued the appeal on Monday, citing recent contracts for oil and gas metering.
Frank Tietie, Director of Advocacy at CASER, voiced worry that the new contracts replicate services previously covered by an existing contract, potentially harming Nigeria’s national interest and emanating from high-level corruption.
Tietie questioned why the Nigerian Shippers Council and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy hadn’t activated the existing contract.CASER voiced concerns about corruption and favouritism, pointing out that recent contracts were given without transparency or adherence to public procurement requirements.
In an attempt to obtain information on the contract awards and beneficiaries, the group has started a freedom of information request.
What they’re saying
“It is important to question why the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigerian Shippers Council have not activated the existing contract, instead allowing a duplication of the same contract by another agency of the same government,” Tietie stated.
“This repetition appears to be driven by a cabal that benefits from the status quo refusing to change.
“In the spirit of openness and justice for the Nigerian people, we urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct all relevant authorities to immediately halt the unnecessary and unjust duplication of the award of the oil and gas metering and cargo monitoring contracts.
“We have suspicions about corruption and favouritism. To get to the bottom of this, we’ve decided to immediately file a freedom of information request.
“We are committed to ensuring that the Nigerian government’s institutions and agents act in the best interests of the Nigerian people’s health and wellbeing. As a result, we encourage the President to hold accountable and discipline all authorities involved in this evident case of dishonest contract manoeuvring.”
Why this matters
Effective oil metering is crucial for accurately measuring and accounting for the production and export of oil and gas, which is vital for protecting Nigeria’s revenue.
Reviving dormant contracts could help ensure that the country receives its fair share of income from its natural resources, reducing the risk of revenue loss due to inaccuracies or inefficiencies.
Bottom Line
CASER’s concerns about corruption and favoritism in the awarding of new contracts highlight the ongoing challenges Nigeria faces in ensuring transparency and accountability in its public procurement processes.
Addressing these issues is important for fostering trust in government institutions and ensuring that public resources are used efficiently and effectively.
