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Contracts awarded for oil, gas metering ‘reeks of corruption’, says CASER
The Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER) has condemned the recent contracts awarded by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for oil and gas metering systems.
In a statement on Monday issued by Frank Tietie, director for advocacy center at CASER, the group said the contracts awarded undermine Nigeria’s national interest.
On July 12, the federal executive council (FEC) approved a $21 million contract for the construction of a metering system for all crude oil flow stations in Nigeria.
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), said the contract awarded would be for a period of 180 days (six months), adding that the move would allow the country to meter about 187 flow stations.
NUPRC inaugurated the metering audit and advance cargo declaration project teams on July 25.
While inaugurating the project teams, Gbenga Komolafe, NUPRC’s chief executive officer (CEO), said the projects were designed to curb oil theft and boost revenue.
The NUPRC boss said the projects would be executed by PE Energy Limited and P-Lyne Energy.
CASER said the contract reeked of “high-level corruption”.
“CASER has strongly advocated for the implementation of the international cargo tracking note (advance cargo declaration) and have in the past, had course to pursue legal action which stalled an earlier attempted breach of the Public Procurement Act,” the statement reads.
“This measure is crucial to ensure accurate revenues from exports and imports, particularly crude oil exports and petroleum imports, prevent the influx of illegal arms and weapons together with other contrabands, and collate accurate trade statistics for vital national planning purposes.
“The federal government of Nigeria, under the past administration of president Muhammadu Buhari had already awarded the contract to a consortium led by Antasser Nigeria Ltd, a global leader in cargo monitoring for ensuring national security and accuracy of revenue remittances to governments across the world.
“However, it is with profound disappointment that we have learned from the minister of state for petroleum, Heineken Lokpobri, of the recent revelation that contracts for the engineering audit of upstream measurement equipment and facilities in the Nigerian oil and gas upstream has been awarded to a particular company, PE Energy Limited, for the sum of $21 million, while another contract for the procurement of pre-field development studies for advanced declaration solution technology (international cargo tracking note) for the Nigerian oil and gas upstream sector was awarded to P-Lyne Energy Limited for an amount yet to be disclosed.
“Essentially, the above two recent contracts form part of services to be rendered free of charge to the federal government in a different contract which has already been awarded to a consortium led by Antasser Nigeria Ltd, and the services to be provided by these recent awards are a clear duplication of services that are actually meant to be at a total zero cost to the federal government of Nigeria under the implementation of the international cargo tracking note (ICTN).
“It is important to question why the Nigerian Shippers Council and the honorable minister of marine and blue economy have not activated the existing contract with the Antasser-led consortium, instead they have allowed for a duplication of the same contract by another agency of the same government.
“This duplication seems to either be motivated by corruption and the self-enrichment of certain individuals in positions of power or the refusal of a cabal benefiting from the status quo.
“The conclusion is easily reached due to the speed and lack of transparency in the processes that led to the recent announcement of the appointment of PE Energy Ltd and P-Lyne Energy Ltd to execute a part of an already awarded contract. These processes defy all public procurement standards, raising more questions than answers at a critical time when our nation is battling with serious economic and security issues.”
CASER said this underscores the urgent need for a thorough examination and comprehensive overhaul of the current operations within the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
It said this call for action is particularly necessary given the recent crisis involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Dangote refinery.
The advocacy group urged President Bola Tinubu to direct all relevant authorities, including Heineken Lokpobiri, the minister of state for Petroleum (oil) and Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of NUPRC, to immediately halt “unnecessary and unjust duplication” of the oil and gas metering and cargo monitoring contract awarded to PE Energy Ltd and P-Lyne Energy Ltd.
The group recommended that the authorities liaise with the Nigerian Shippers Council to implement the already existing contract.
CASER announced plans to initiate a freedom of information (FOI) request, expressing suspicions of corruption and favouritism despite the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.
The group said it is seeking information on several aspects of the process including the contract details and when it was advertised and information about the companies that submitted bids.
Others include details about the winning bidder, including the bidding process used and the reason for their selection, evidence that this process went through all the required agencies for such a contract and the ultimate beneficiaries of the contract.
CASER reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Nigerian government institutions and agents act in the best interests of Nigerians’ well-being through the judicious use of resources, compliance with legal standards, eradication of abuses of public office for self-service, and reduction of public sector corruption.
The group called on the president to hold accountable and penalise all officials involved in this “clear case of corrupt contract” manoeuvring and to ensure that appropriate actions are taken without delay.
The Zamfara Elders Forum has accused Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign against nine elected members of the state House of Assembly, alleging that he is using the judiciary to suppress their legislative duties.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the forum’s spokesperson, Dr Abdulmumin Kamil Gusau, described the state government’s actions as “disturbing and embarrassing.”
The group claims that Chief Magistrate Halima Jaafar Mikaila issued an arrest order for the lawmakers without prior summons or formal charges, a move they argue undermines the rule of law.
“We are deeply troubled by how the state government is manipulating judicial mechanisms to target constitutionally elected members of the state House of Assembly,” Guasa said.
“These lawmakers are being persecuted for fulfilling their legislative responsibilities and highlighting shortcomings in the executive’s performance in the public interest.”
The forum noted that the affected lawmakers, drawn from both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), have already lodged a case at the Court of Appeal in Sokoto.
They have also petitioned key authorities, including the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Security Adviser, and the National Assembly, seeking intervention.
Despite these pending legal and formal complaints, the forum alleges that the magistrate court proceeded with the arrest order, which they deem unlawful.
The group has called on Governor Lawal to cease what it describes as harassment and engage in dialogue with the lawmakers to resolve the ongoing crisis amicably.
“The APC will remain steadfast in upholding the law and will not tolerate the politicisation of judicial officers to serve narrow interests,” Gusua stated.
“We stand firmly against any attempts to intimidate lawmakers for raising concerns about the worsening security situation in their constituencies, which the state government has failed to address.”
By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has entered into partnership with
Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, to drive fresh investment options in the State.
With 68,000 hectares, the Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL) in Tunga, is considered Nigeria’s biggest Backward Integration Policy (BIP) project in the sugar sector.
Speaking to newsmen, Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, Nidan Sambo Manasseh, said the 2025 Trade Fair and Exhibition has provided the chance for the Dangote Group and NASSI to consider the numerous business opportunities in the State.
According to Manasseh, “We are actively exploring opportunities to deepen our collaboration with the Dangote Group, particularly in expanding employment programmes through youth and women’s skills acquisition and other vital support services.
“We deeply appreciate the Dangote Group’s invaluable collaboration through financial support and sponsorship of NASSI’s programs. Their contribution has been exceptional, and we are profoundly grateful.”
Continuing, Manasseh said the Nasarawa Trade Fair Exhibition (NASTFE) is a vital catalyst for the State’s economic transformation, adding that the strategic initiative by NASSI directly aligns with Governor Abdullahi Sule’s vision to stimulate investment and unlock significant growth.
He said Nasarawa State’s wealth in mineral resources is a central highlight of NASTFE, adding that the exhibition will showcase how its natural endowment can drive economic growth by encouraging value addition in raw material processing and manufacturing, particularly benefiting Small Scale Industries.
“NASTFE serves as a premier platform to showcase Nasarawa State’s considerable potential, connecting discerning investors with its abundant natural resources and dynamic human capital. Governor Sule’s commitment to a business-enabling environment is evident, with NASTFE designed to effectively communicate this compelling value proposition,” he added.
The chairman of NASSI said its objective is to leverage Nasarawa State’s rich natural resources to fuel economic growth by promoting value addition in raw material processing and manufacturing.
“This focus will enhance economic value, particularly for Small Scale Industries, attract crucial investment, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to poverty reduction,” he said.
A statement from the Dangote Group’s Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said: “Nasarawa State is central to our overall investment in Nigeria. It is home to Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL). The sugar project, when completed, will be one of the biggest sugar investments on the African continent.”
The statement quoted the Senior Special Adviser to the Dangote Group’s President, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, as saying that: “We are not taking this partnership for granted. Our Strategic Business Units (SBUs) are participating.
According to her, some of the Business Units participating from the Dangote Group are: Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN), Dangote SinoTruck, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Salt (NASCON) and Dangote Cement, among others.”
Mrs. Abdurrahman said the Trade Fair offers the company an opportunity to interact with stakeholders and Nigerians who may want to do business with the company.
She said a special Help Desk will be created for inquiries to enable the company to receive feedback from participants.
She urged participants to visit the company’s pavilion and take advantage of its innovative products.
By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has pledged to intervene in the workers’ loan repayments that were deducted from their salaries but never remitted to the respective banks.
The Governor made this commitment while responding to an appeal by the Sokoto State Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu, who urged the state government to intervene in the matter.
According to the NLC chairperson, many workers who took loans through salary deductions have continued to suffer due to the failure of officials in the previous administration to remit the deductions to the banks.
“Your Excellency, please come to the aid of these people. They have been at a crossroads for years,” Comrade Abdullahi appealed. “We know you to be firm in defending people’s rights. Please apply your popular slogan, in kudi kudi in aiki aiki, to recover the diverted funds.”
Governor Aliyu assured the labour leader and affected workers that his administration will investigate the matter and ensure that the right thing is done .
“This administration prioritizes human rights and will not condone any violations under any guise,” the Governor said. “We are committed to protecting the rights of the weak, the less privileged, and the downtrodden in our state.”
a statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to the governor quoted his principal as appealing to the people of State to continue their support and cooperation with his administration so that they can continue to benefit from the dividends of democracy.
The governor further expressed gratitude for the public’s fervent prayers to his administration and urged them to mentain the tempo.