Niger Delta Group Flays Attacks on NAPIMS

Ejiofor Alike

The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) has faulted attacks on the management of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by those the group described as disgruntled contractors.

The group also exonerated the Group General Manager of NAPIMS, Mr. Dafe Sejebor from allegation of corruption and marginalisation of contractors from the Niger Delta region.

In a press statement signed by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, the group exonerated the NAPIMS boss from the allegation that he played a role in the demobilisation of a vessel belonging to a contractor from the Niger Delta by ExxonMobil.

The Warri-based NDIMRC insisted that the said contractor should go and resolve issues with ExxonMobil instead of dragging NAPIMS into the controversy.

On the allegation that Dafe was marginalising the people from Niger Delta in NAPIMS, the group said that: “This is a pure lie and should be ignored. The entire people of the Niger Delta Region are having their fair share in NAPIMS and even our local contractors are being carried along on merit. Without NAPIMS, it would have been very difficult for Nigerian local contractors to be awarded contracts. These allegations against NAPIMS are unacceptable to us and the entire people of the oil-rich Niger Delta region,” the group said.

While warning those it accused of being used to discredit NAPIMS and mislead the public, the group tasked security operatives to fish out such elements and bring them to book.

“We know those that have being hired to rubbish the good reputation of NAPIMS. They are not representing the people they are claiming to be fighting for; they are on selfish mission and that is why we are calling on security operatives to smoke such bad elements out and deal with them appropriately “, group stated.

“These elements and those they are working for should be investigated by security operatives and dealt with, otherwise this will weaken the morale of public officers who are doing a great job for our people by promoting the Nigerian Local Content. People are always going against things that are not in their favour. These people are selfish, greedy and out to blackmail NAPIMS to do their bidding,” NDIMRC added.

“Let it be known that the NAPIMS management alone cannot take the decision of contract award; due process must be followed and it is very wrong and unacceptable for a government worker to be threatened because their pay master failed to secure a particular contract,” the group added.
The group insisted that rather than being vilified, NAPIMS should be commended for the promotion of the Nigerian Local Content; for giving the entire people of the Niger Delta Region a sense of belonging.