Oil Tanks

By Ejiofor Alike

Bayelsa-based Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) has called for sanctions against some International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria for allegedly flouting the Nigerian Content law.

In a weekend statement signed by its President, Mr. Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Mukoro Stanley, the group also praised the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, for her encouragement of indigenous companies.

It however urged the minister to sanction some of the multinational oil companies for their alleged continued subversion of the Nigerian Content.

 NDIMRC alleged that two years after President Goodluck Jonathan signed the law, most of the multinational oil companies are still carrying on their operations as usual, without reckoning with indigenous contractors.

 The group assured the minister on its preparedness to fully support her actions in enforcing the Nigerian Content to the letter.

 It noted that many indigenous oil servicing companies in the region had demonstrated their commitment to make the Nigerian Content work, but they are not being encouraged by the multi-national oil companies, which according to NDIMRC, still prefer to deal with Daewoo, Saipem, Acergy and OPI.

“We know that their intention is to kill the Nigerian Content, but this is unacceptable to us,” the group added. 

While commending the minister over her determination to change the ways of doing business in the sector, the group implored her to bring to book multi-national oil companies frustrating her efforts and the Nigerian Content.

 “We want to commend the minister over her recent tour of fully indigenous companies in the Niger Delta region. It is a reassuring tour and we want more of it. But we are still not comfortable with the way the multinational oil companies are treating our indigenous companies and the Nigerian Content. The time has come for the minister to read the Riot Act to them. They should not be allowed to derail the Nigerian Content,” the statement said.

 The group stated that the Nigerian content was a boost to local participation in the oil sector.

According to NDIMRC, indigenous oil servicing companies had invested so much in capacity building in the last few years and should be encouraged so that their huge investment in the Nigerian Content will not be in vain.

 “We want the minister to know that we will back all her actions in ensuring that foreigners and their Nigerian collaborators are not allowed to kill the Nigerian Content and the heavy investments of our indigenous oil servicing companies. The minister should not spare any erring multinational oil company working against the actualisation of the Nigerian Content. We will throw our weight behind her in dealing with those who do not want her to succeed in her national assignment,” NDIMRC said.