National Assembly has commenced investigations into the 4 billion U.S. dollars Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) project 7.
This attracted controversies, disagreements, and rowdiness on Thursday prompting the Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives conducting the probe to observe two separate closed-door meetings with the NLNG officials led by NLNG Project Director, Mr. Ali Uwais, as well as the contractors handling the project.
Having failed to get the information they required, the Committees, in a resolution, agreed to formally make their requests known to the NLNG in terms of document and other information needed.
It also charged the NLNG to halt further variations in the over $4 billion contract.
Trouble started when Mr. Uwais submitted a document containing what the Lawmakers called limited information.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, expressed disappointment that a clause in the document clearly said that figures contained therein are disputed and subject to ongoing legally privileged commercial negotiations.
Lawmakers took turns to condemn the insistence of NLNG and the contractors on not making useful information available for the investigation.
The NLNG had informed the Committee that five variation requests were being evaluated, which amounted to about $7 million.
Mr. Uwais also told the Committee that the fluctuation in foreign exchange rate is a principal cause of contract variation. This there led to arguments and counterarguments between members of the Committee, NLNG officials, and contractors.
The Committee adjourned to reconvene on July 3, 2024.
