11th October, 2011
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Austen Oniwon, has failed a major test of the Freedom of Information Act, which was recently signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Oniwon has since 27 June, 2011, failed to respond to the request of the Chairman/Publisher of Oil & Gas publications Limited, Franklin A. Akintilo, who had enquired from the NNPC boss how crude oil is lifted and a list of those who are responsible for lifting it.
The letter of enquiry from Mr. Akintilo with the title: “Request For Information On Crude Oil Term Contract”,’ reminded Mr. Oniwon of the advertisement he sponsored in a Nigerian newspaper during the fourth quarter of 2010 inviting interested companies to apply for lifting of Nigerian crude oil for a period beginning from 1 January to 31 December, 2011.
According to the letter, in accordance with Section 3 Subsection 1 and Section 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, he was requested to provide information relating to the award of the crude oil lifting in some areas including the number of companies that indicated interest.
The NNPC boss was also expected to state the number of companies shortlisted for the exercise, the number of companies that were awarded the crude oil lifting contract, the names, addresses, and volume of crude oil allocated to each awardee and the destination of the cargoes of crude oil awarded and lifted.
The letter also requested Oniwon to furnish the sender with the names of the refineries the crude oil is lifted to and its location, but in the event that it is not lifted to any refinery but to a globally recognised large volume trader, evidence of the global network, its activities and volume of crude oil handled should be made available.
But since then, Oniwon has not replied to the letter and the publisher has become worried that his action is against the FOI bill which excited Nigerians when it was passed.
Mr. Akintilo said Oniwon actually received the letter because DHL confirmed its delivery the next day after the letter was sent that it was received by Abdulkadiri.
He wondered if Nigerians are actually prepared for the law and its implementation.
Efforts to reach Oniwon proved abortive as at the time of filing this report
Levi Ajuonuma, the group spokesman of NNPC declined to pick his calls after several attempts.
—Eromosele Ebhomele