By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG), has debunked a report alleging the theft of $1.2billion crude oil and gas.
NatureNews gathered that the report tilted, “ How govt officials facilitated $1.2bn crude oil, gas theft – Source” was published by the Vanguard newspaper.
According to the report, “ The sources noted that while all eyes are on the fight against illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism, top government officials of agencies expected to perform supervisory and due diligence roles in the sale and shipment’s of the nation’s vast hydrocarbon resources are trading away the resources to cartels and reaping the benefits into private pockets.
The sources said Europe and the America were favourite destinations because the products, which are sold at giveaway prices, are paid for without delay.
The report further stated, ““Nigeria LNG products worth $981.5 million were exported to Mexico in 33 trips using different vessels to wade away any form of suspicion.
“Officials supervised the exportation of the products to Mexico with no official paperwork prepared for the export.”
But in reaction to this report, the NLNG made a statement describing the report as false, malicious and a deliberate rehash of fallacious claims.
The General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of NLNG, Andy Odeh, said the company responded to the allegations, clearly stating the facts, yet the newspaper published the same allegations with no opportunity offered to the company to react or respond to the assertions.
According to him, the publication was obviously calculated to cast the company and its leadership in bad light.
Odeh said deliveries of LNG from its Bonny Terminal complied with all regulatory requirements for the export of its products and are made under various LNG sales contracts to destinations not limited to Europe, but also to the Far East, Greater Middle East.
He said, “NLNG is a responsible corporate citizen operating its business according to strong business principles and ethics in accordance with requirements of relevant Nigerian and global laws and regulations.
“From the commencement of its operations in October 1999, NLNG has never, and does not, engage in “illegal” exportation of LNG or any of its products, nor is NLNG involved in any international cartel, as alleged.
“It is simply not true that the illegal exportation is still ongoing with the backing of some top officials of government.”