Alleged infractions in the process for awarding contracts on the NLNG Train 7 (T7) project by Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited has been revealed.
It would be recalled that the Train 7 project a $10billion gas project owned by the Nigerian Liquid and Natural Gas Company (NLNG) and is expected to boost the Nation’s gas capacity by 35%.
The revealation followed a letter to the Senate President by Mr. Moboluwaduro Abimbola a whistleblower who also copied the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC).
Specifically, at the ground breaking ceremony conducted by President Muhammad Buhari in July this year, he stated that the project is expected to create over 12000 direct and 1.2million indirect jobs, with millions of dollars’ worth of activities and contracts within the Train 7 project, executed by Nigerians.
Further investigation suggests that three months into the project, the National Assembly is in receipt of several petitions alleging how Saipem, an Italian company, who is the principal partner in the delivery of the project, has created a system whereby qualified Nigerian companies are excluded in the bidding and award process of contracts, which local content laws has deliberately reserved for Nigerians.
Consequently, the National Assembly has commenced investigations into the veracity of the allegations against the Saipem.
Meanwhile, repeated efforts to unravel the exact contents of the petitions or identity of the petitioners was unsuccessful.
