Contractor handling the execution of $2.8 billion Ajaokuta – Kaduna – Kano, AKK Gas Pipeline Project, Brentex CCP Limited has lamented moves by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to de-scope $1.27 billion station component of the contract.
The Chairman of the Company of Btentex CPP Limited, Sani Abubakar lamented to the committee that parts of the delay in the execution of the contract was NNPCL letter issued to them that they are de-scoping the $1.27billion stations (TGS) component of the contract, stressing that they have been in discussion with them for the past eighteen months.
“So, the delay on execution of the contract is not from us but from NNPCL”, he said.
The disclosure by the contractor was in response to discontent by the Senate Committee on Local Contents chaired by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over the delay in the project.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that the delay in execution of $2.8 billion AKK Gas Pipeline Project for whatever reasons, was not in the interest of the nation, while they ordered Brentex CPP Ltd to speed up on $1.27billion component of the project.
Speaking further, the Chairman of the Committee in her response, told the Brentex Chief Executive that based on information at her disposal through documents submitted, NNPCL is making the move to take the stations component of the contract from Brentex for delay in execution.
She said: “Should i tell you , you are refusing to mention something. The reason why NNPCL is considering de-scoping is that, they are not satisfied with the pace of work .
“Let’s be very honest, they said the project is supposed to be completed in 2022, it wasn’t completed and they gave you first extension to 2023 and even recently extended again , to complete everything by May, 2025.
“To the very best of every stakeholders’ knowledge, the stations are in your control because it still makes part of the $1.27 billion as you said and the only person delaying is you. .
“Consequently to sum it up, just submit every correspondence between your company and NNPCL.
“If they have written to you to de-scope, let us see that letter because I’m very sure , NNPCL must have stated in such letter that if you do not complete by so, so, we will take away this . They won’t just say we are de-scoping”.
