Energy

Groups seek clarification on concession of Port Harcourt refinery

Published

7 years ago

June 19, 2017

Olu Emmanuel

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Keyamo writes DG, Concession Commission

Some ‘activists’ groups in Nigeria have requested detailed information from the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Abuja, on the concession of the Port Harcourt refinery by the Federal Government.

The 17 groups through their legal counsel, Festus Keyamo Chambers, in a letter to the DG argued that “By the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment) Act and the National Policy on Public Private Partnership, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for all concession agreements and its approval must be first sought and obtained before such a concessionary agreement is concluded.”

Festus Ukpe, Esq, Counsel and John Ainetor, Esq, Assistant Head of Chambers, solicitors to the 17 groups, in a letter, dated 13^th June, 2017, to the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, explained: “The purpose of this application is to respectfully enquire whether the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission has taken custody of the said concession agreement and whether the concession was carried out in line with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment) Act as well as the National Policy on Public Private Partnership.”

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“We further urge you to kindly make available to us certified copies of all the documents regarding the concession of the Port Harcourt Refinery to Nigerian Agip Oil Company/ENI. We undertake to pay the necessary fees in this regard,” they added.

The Solicitors highlighted that their clients were concerned that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Federal Government have concluded plans to concession the Port Harcourt Refinery to Nigerian Agip Oil Company/ENI. “This information was released by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and was conveyed by several news outlets in the mainstream and online media,” they noted.

The groups include: Comrade Debo Adeniran of Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership; Mallam Abdul Bako Usman of Campaign for Democracy; Ms Vera Okei of Centre for Change; Olufemi Lawson of Nigerians Unite Against Corruption; Rasaq Oladosu of Grassroot Democratic Initiative; Gbemi Effunuga of Empower Africa for Change; Godwin Ogbeide of Justice Forum Initiative; Oyemola Oyetoro of Anti-Corruption Crusaders; Comrade Kola Salau of National Rebirth Movement; Engr. Jude Ochiaga of Centre for Public Accountability; Comrade Wale Salami of Protest To Power Movement; Comrade Ishola Adeshina of Peoples’ Action for Democracy; Comrade Tayo Gbadebo of Children Project; Comrade Shikemi Awodele of Beko Rights Klub; Comrade Abiodun Rabiu of Centre for Cultural and Religious Rights; Comrade Wasiu Isiaka of

ISOKAN and Comrade Adetutu Oreniyi of Aluta Youth Collective.

They were identified as representatives of various non-governmental organisations whose shared objectives include the entrenchment of transparent democratic practices in Nigeria.