Alison-Madueke, PPPRA Say No Indicted Company Got Fuel Importation Contract. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Thursday denied reports that some of the companies indicted for their involvement in fuel subsidy scam were recipients of new contracts to import fuel into the country by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPPRA). Reuters had reported that some Oil Marketing and Trading (OMT) companies indicted in the subsidy scam were among those that were issued permit for fuel importation in the third quarter of this year. The newswire also noted that at least three other companies awarded third quarter allocations had been ordered to account for their shipments or refund falsely claimed subsidy money in another government report released last June. But Allison-Madueke, who was speaking with state House correspondents at the Presidential Villa yesterday at the end of a meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), said it was not possible for any of the indicted companies to get any contract from the government, stressing that all successful companies were thoroughly screened before being selected. While responding to the question put to her, the minister said: "That is not possible. I believe you are referring to the listing of companies by the PPPRA for importation of fuel. All companies were vetted carefully and only companies that were cleared were put on the list." Allison-Madueke, who attended the meeting alongside the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke, Minsiter of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide, said she was invited by the president to attend the meeting because of the importance of some of the legal policies in the oil and gas sector. Also, the PPPRA has denied issuing fuel import permits to companies indicted in the subsidy fraud. Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr. Reginald Stanley, said firms in the third quarter import allocation list were companies that were given a clean bill of health in the various subsidy probes conducted last year. Stanley, who faulted the report said under the current dispensation, even if the agency was foolish enough to include any of the indicted firms, such firms will not be paid by the Ministry of Finance. He clarified: “No company that was indicted in the subsidy claims report can import petroleum products under the new dispensation." In fact, even if we were foolish enough to include any of them, they will get stuck because the Ministry of Finance will not pay them. “Finance ministry is resolute in cleaning up the subsidy mess, and has not even finished paying off the genuine claims. So it will be a big risk for any company indicted to go importing fuel, when it has not yet been cleared, and no business man would want to tie down his/her money indefinitely,” he said. Sequel to concerns that the inability of these accredited importers to access credits from the banks could fuel another crisis in the system, the PPPRA was said to have expanded the list for the third quarter 2013 to over 40 companies for the third quarter 2013 import allocations, as against about 30 companies accredited in the second quarter. The list compiled by Reuters using information from five sources showed around 3.4 million tonnes was allocated for the third quarter to more than 40 companies. Some of the successful companies include Oando Plc, Folawiyo, Total Nigeria Plc, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited; Techo Oil Limited; MRS Oil and Gas Limited; Nepal Energy; Fresh Synergy, Matrix Energy and Ibafon. Meanwhile, an oil marketing company, Nepal Oil and Gas Limited has denied insinuations that it was indicted by any probe. Rather the company stated unequivocally that it was never indicted by any of the probe committees set up by the federal government be it the legislative, ministerial or presidential panel that investigated the management of the Petroleum Subsidy Fund. In a statement made available to THISDAY by the company’s management, it stated: “Nepal was never indicted or ever referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigerian Police Force for further investigations as companies indicted were referred for such. It is therefore erroneous and worrisome that Nepal would be mixed with some other companies on a subject matter that does not involve it.” The firm also asserted: “Nepal was never found wanting in its cooperation with both the legislative panel of the National Assembly and the defunct Aig-Imoukhuede Presidential Panel on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Repayments.” It stated that Nepal had written a letter to the SFU to clarify its position as a result of earlier media reports and an error of its inclusion in records of the Debt Management Office’s list. It noted that the SFU in its letter dated June 20, 2013 responded by clearly stating that Nepal was neither indicted for any wrong doing nor under any criminal investigation. The report further disclosed that the company was never referred to the SFU either by the Presidential Committee or any other government agency for investigations. ThisDay.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 13:51:43 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015