22 August 2012, Sweetcrude, WARRI—A GROUP known as Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, has urged Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to call the Vice-Chairman/Managing Director of Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, Mr. Ciro Pagano, to order over the Nigerian Content Act.
The group also implored the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate activities of the company.
In a statement by its President, Nelly Emma, the group praised the Petroleum Minister for her transparency in the industry and encouragement of indigenous companies, but urged her to sanction Agip boss, over his alleged continued subversion of the Nigerian Content Law.
According to it, two years on after President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Nigerian Content Bill into law; Agip was still carrying on its operations as usual and has allegedly refused to carry indigenous companies along.
It assured the minister of its preparedness to fully support her actions in enforcing the Nigerian Content Law to the letter.
It said: “Our findings have revealed that Mr. Pagano is bent on frustrating the Nigerian Local Content Law as he has ordered all his general managers in charge of projects to put on hold all projects meant to be executed between now and 2015.
“He is doing this to spite President Jonathan; he wants the President, who is spearheading compliance to Nigerian Local Content Law, to be out of office in 2015 before these projects are awarded as the Agip boss does not want the Local Content of the Federal Government to succeed.”