Asari, Fasheun, Adams threaten FG over multi billion naira contract

In from Enite Benjamin …
Pipeline Security and Surveillance service providers, whose contracts were recently terminated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), have said that they would approach the courts if the NNPC did not pay them their dues by the end of this month (August).
Rising from a meeting, held on Friday, August 14, 2015, in Lagos, the NNPC Pipeline Security and Surveillance service providers, said they had unanimously resolved to write the management of the NNPC on the need to settle its indebtedness to the contractors.
Those who attended the meeting, included Dr. Fredrick Faseun (New Age NIG. Ltd); Otunba Gani Adams (Donyx Global Concept Ltd); Alhaji Asari Dokubo (ATEF Nig. Ltd.); and High Chief Bibo pere Ajube (Galery Security Services Ltd)
Others were High Chief Omo (Close Body Protection Ltd), Chief Joshua Machiever (Bajeros NIG Ltd) and Izon Ibe Security Ltd
They stated that, “By this, we have resolved that by the end of this month, if the NNPC fails to redeem its contractual obligation and refuse to pay us, we would be left with no choice but to take them to court, an action which we think may not do the credibility of the government any good because it is a case based on contractual agreement that was legally signed by a parastatal of government”.
The pipeline security and surveillance contractors in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and NNPC said there was the need to dispel the notion that the pipeline protection contracts were awarded to them by former President Goodluck Jonathan on the platter of politics.
They said, “Nothing can be farther from the truth than this. For the purpose of clarity, it should be noted that the contract was signed between the contractors and the management of the NNPC, an agency of government, as a way of finding lasting solutions to the incessant problem of pipeline vandalisation across the country.
“The terms and agreements of the contract were formulated and drafted by the management of the NNPC and was duly signed by all the parties, including the contractors and the legal department of the NNPC after several meetings and consultations.
“It should be known that the contractors had valid and duly signed contract agreements with the management of the NNPC to protect the pipelines for a period of three months.

Read also: Fasehun demands N1.9bn from NNPC

“It is also necessary for the public to know that, against widely held belief that the contract was terminated by the Federal Government, it should be noted that the contract indeed ran its course, which was a period of three months, starting from March 15, 2015 and ended June 15, 2015.
“It is our belief that the contract agreement between the NNPC and the contractors is a public document and therefore can always be accessed by any member of public.
“At the same time, what we are demanding from the NNPC is for it to redeem its own part of the contract agreement and should not be seen as a favour and handout to any individual.
“It is also important to know that within the period of the contract, all the contractors experienced one form of loss or the other, either financially, death, physical injuries, or in most cases all the losses”.
According to them, “While we are determined to explore all peaceful and diplomatic avenues to get our dues from the NNPC, we once again want to plead with the management of the NNPC, the Federal Government and indeed President Muhamadu Buhari to ensure that all the contractors get paid for the services rendered to an agency of the Federal Government”.

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