Activist groups demand documents on concession of PH refinery

At least 20 groups have demanded all the documents regarding the concession of the Port Harcourt refinery.

In a letter written to the director-general of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission by Festus Keyamo, their counsel, the groups asked if the necessary procedures were followed in the concession bid.

They said the commission is in charge of concession and demanded to know if the federal government contacted it before concluding the agreement.

“Our clients are representatives of various non-governmental organisations whose shared objectives include the entrenchment of transparent democratic practices in Nigeria,” the letter read.

“It has recently come to the attention of our clients that the ministry of petroleum resources and the federal government have concluded plans to concession the Port Harcourt Refinery to Nigerian Agip Oil Company/ENI.

“This information was released by the minister of state for petroleum resources and was conveyed by several news outlets in the mainstream and online media.

“By the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment) Act and the National Policy on Public Private Partnership, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for all concession agreements and its approval must be first sought and obtained before such a concessionary agreement is concluded.

“The purpose of this application is to respectfully enquire whether the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission has taken custody of the said concession agreement and whether the concession was carried out in line with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment) Act as well as the National Policy on Public Private Partnership.

“We further urge you to kindly make available to us certified copies of all the documents regarding the concession of the Port Harcourt refinery to Nigerian Agip Oil Company/ENI. We undertake to pay the necessary fees in this regard.

“We look forward to your expeditious response.”

Those who endorsed the letter are Debo Adeniran of Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership; Andul Bako Usman of Campaign for Democracy; Vera Okei of Centre for Change; Olufemi Lawson of Nigerians Unite Against Corruption; Rasaq Oladosu of Grassroot Democratic Initiative; Gbemi Effunuga of Empower Africa for Change; Godwin Ogbeide of Justice Forum Initiative; Oyemola Oyetoro of Anti-Corruption Crusaders and Kola Salau of National Rebirth Movement.

Others are Jude Ochiaga of Centre for Public Accountability; Wale Salami of Protest To Power Movement; Ishola Adeshina of Peoples’ Action for Democracy; Tayo Gbadebo of Children Project; Shikemi Awodele of Beko Rights Klub; Abiodun Rabiu of Centre for Cultural and Religious Rights; Wasiu Isiaka of ISOKAN and Adetutu Oreniyi of Aluta Youth Collective.