DG, BPP, Emeka Ezeh
Chuks Okocha
There are indications that the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) are on warpath over the companies that would execute the N33.949 billion contract approved for the building and construction of an oil and gas museum in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State.
BPP had earlier granted due process certificates to companies that passed the process, but the PTDF is insisting that waivers be given to companies that did not pass the due process, which the BPP out-rightly rejected.
BPP in a letter dated July 9, 2012 and signed by the Director General, Emeka Ezeh, approved a due process certificates for the award of contracts to seven companies that passed the due process certification for the award of contract for the following areas for the Oil and Gas Museum, including the research centre, international conference centre, sand filling and civil works, external maintenance, external electrical works, site clearance, geotechnical survey and fencing.
The seven companies in the oil and gas sector that took part in the bidding process and won the contract for the construction and building of the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum are Beks Kimse Ltd, Megastar Construction and Technical Co. Ltd, Sajook Nigeria Ltd, Kinetic Electromechanic Nig. Ltd, Unipad Nigeria Ltd, Meson Investment Ltd and Commerce Services for a contract fee of 33.949billion.
But the PTDF fired back in a letter dated July 10, 2012 rejecting the companies that passed the due process certifications for the Oil and Gas Museum in Oloibiri.
In its letter, PTDF recommended the following companies to perform the contract of the oil and gas museum contract at an increased contract fee of N36, 315,019,032 to seven companies preferred by the fund.
The companies are Messers Z Cubes, Messers Meson Investment Ltd, Messers Mercury Engineering and Messers Gabezi Nigeria Ltd.
But in rejecting the PTDF letter again, the Director General of BPP, Emeka Ezeh, in another letter dated July 24, 2012 titled: “Due Process Review Report on Contract for the Establishment of Oil and Gas Research Centre and Museum Oloibiri, Bayelsa State by PTDF,” said, “the Bureau wishes to reiterate her earlier decision that, due process certificate of no objection cannot be granted for the award of the contracts for the establishment of Oil and Gas Research Centre and Museum, Oloibiri, Bayelsa State in favour of the under listed contractors as follows: Mercury Engineering Ltd, Gabezi Nigeria Ltd, Kinetic Electromechanic Ltd and Z Cubes Nigeria Ltd.”
The letter from BPP to PTDF further said: “The Due Process certificate of No Objection, Ref. No. BPP/S.1/Vol.X/12/063 dated July 9, 2012 earlier granted to the PTDF for contracts for the establishment of Oil and Gas Research Centre and Museum, Oloibiri, Bayelsa state in the favour of the under listed contractors are still valid of processing to the Federal Executive Council.”
BPP listed the companies to include: Beks Kimse Ltd, Megastar Construction and Technical Co. Ltd, Sajook Nigeria Ltd, Kinetic Electromechanic Nig. Ltd, Unipad Nigeria Ltd, Meson Investment Ltd and Commerce Services for a contract fee of 33.949, 076952.95.”