11 February 2016, Lagos – The National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, has received the backing of the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, on the approval of $260 million contracts for ExxonMobil’s Usan Field.
A statement by the group’s President, Nelly Emma, said that the contract award followed due process, adding that some elements were just out to tarnish the good image of NAPIMS.
“Those behind the story that the contract was fraudulent are not telling the world the whole truth. This contract was managed by Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, TUPNI, for two years before it was taken over by ExxonMobil and it is not true that NAPIMS allegedly approved the $260 million contracts illegally.
“To the best of our knowledge, due process was followed by NAPIMS in the award of the contracts. Without NAPIMS, it would have been very difficult for Nigerian local contractors to be awarded contracts.
“The allegation that NAPIMS approved the $260 million contracts illegally for ExxonMobil’s Usan Field is unacceptable to us and the entire people of Niger Delta region,” the group said.
The contracts involve the provision of DP2-DP3 Construction Platform Vessel, Provision of DP2 4800 DWT Platform Support Vessel, PSV, and Provision of Fast Supply Intervention Vessel, FSIV, for Usan deep water project. ESSO took over the operatorship of Usan Field from TUPNI on February 1, 2014 and inherited all contracts running on the Usan Field.
- Vanguard