BREAKING: Netizens Kick As Port Harcourt Refinery Contractor Maire Tecnimont Rejects Falana’s Request for Completion Date of $1.5 Billion Rehabilitation Project Awarded Since 2021

BREAKING: Port Harcourt Refinery Contractor Maire Tecnimont Rejects Falana’s Request for Completion Date of $1.5 Billion Rehabilitation Project Awarded Since 2021 Written By Oshiobugie John- In a move that has sparked renewed public scrutiny, Maire Tecnimont S.P.A, the Italian firm awarded the $1.5 billion contract to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt Refineries, has refused to disclose a completion date for the long-overdue project, despite a formal request from prominent human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Falana, exercising his right under Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, had sought transparency regarding the timeline for the refinery’s rehabilitation, which has faced numerous delays since the contract was awarded by the Federal Government in 2021.

In response to the request, Maire Tecnimont’s legal counsel, Muyiwa Ogungbenro, a partner at Olajide Oyewole LLP, issued a letter on Monday, unequivocally declining to provide the requested information.

Ogungbenro stated, “We are counsel to Maire Tecnimont S.P.A, and have been instructed to respond to your letters dated September 17 and 24, 2024, requesting information on the contract between our client and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.”

He continued, “As an independent private contractor, Maire Tecnimont is not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Our client is neither a company in which the government has a controlling interest, nor does it provide public services or utilize public funds in a way that would make it bound by the obligations of the FOI Act.”

“On this basis, our client regrettably cannot comply with your request,” Ogungbenro concluded.

Falana’s inquiry, which sought clarity on the status and expected completion date of the Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation, was made public in September. In his letter to Maire Tecnimont’s Managing Director, Falana referenced the critical $1.5 billion contract, awarded in April 2021, which outlined a phased rehabilitation expected to be completed in 18, 24, and 44 months.

As chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Falana underscored the urgency of transparency on a project that has drawn national attention for its delays and escalating costs. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that the $1.5 billion allocated for the project is used effectively to restore the refinery to full capacity.

In his letter dated September 17, 2024, Falana wrote, “Given that the Federal Government of Nigeria awarded the contract to your reputable company for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refineries for the sum of US$1.5 billion, it is critical to provide clarity on the completion dates.”

He emphasized that under the FOI Act, Maire Tecnimont had seven days to respond, warning that failure to do so could prompt legal action. “In view of the foregoing, you are advised to accede to our request in order to assure the Nigerian public that the contract sum of $1.5 billion has been judiciously utilized for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refineries.”

Falana also signaled his intent to pursue legal recourse if the company continued to withhold the requested information, stating, “If you fail to accede to my request, I will not hesitate to approach the Federal High Court for legal redress.”