Jonathan Awards Oil Blocks Secretly to Unknown Parties

According to a report from the Vanguard, the Federal Government has awarded oil blocks in a manner that flouts the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) of which Nigeria is signatory.

Government recently awarded Otakikpo field in Oil Mining Lease, OML 11, and the Ubima Creek field in OML 17to Green energy and All Grace Energy respectively without recourse to due process.

The two companies do not have a track record of operating in the Oil and Gas industry and are virtually unknown.

Also the government has not disclosed how much it realized from these discretionary awards. It is unknown how government can expect to fight corruption when it is also knee deep in the practice.

A director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Osten Olorunsola said there was nothing wrong in the awards as Mr. President has the constitutional power to do so.

2 Comments

1. 

   Matthew Ogagavworia

   May 9, 2012 at 9:22 am

   Having constitutional power to act does not relieve the President the responsibility for due process and transparency.
2. 

   Matthew Ogagavworia

   May 9, 2012 at 9:22 am

   Having constitutional power to act does not relieve the President the responsibility for due process and transparency.