Security firm denies involvement in Rivers illegal bunkering

The Management of an Abia State-based security firm, Martinsevid International Company Nigeria Limited, has debunked allegations that it is involved in illegal bunkering in Rivers State.

The denial came on the heels of allegations against the company by some host communities under the Oil Mining Lease 11 in Rivers and Abia states over the pipelines surveillance contract in the oil field.

The communities, at a press briefing in Port Harcourt last week, accused the contractor handling the surveillance contract on the Imo2/Owaza/Komkom/Ogale truck line of gross incompetence.

The communities, including Isietitioha, Umuorie town, Isimiri autonomous community, Owaza clan in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State and Umuedeokwara community, Odagwe in the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State called on the Federal Government and the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited to immediately replace the contractor for allegedly aiding and abetting oil bunkering activities.

But speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Managing Director of Martinsevid International Company Nigeria Limited, Martins Noah described the allegations as outright falsehood, saying it is a case of corruption fighting back, as the claims of his accusers lacked merit.

Noah explained that Martinsevid was awarded the contract by the Pipelines Infrastructure Nigeria Limited and resumed operations on November 1, 2023 as a pipeline surveillance contractor on the OML-11 trunk line, owned by NPDC.

He said though his contract had been withdrawn by the PINL on February 29, his company, in the four months of its operations in OML-11, uncovered 25 valves installed by vandals and oil thieves through which they perpetrate their illegal bunkering activities

Noah said, “At the time of commencement of the contract, there were so many illegal valves on the line due to the illegal vandalization and illegal oil bunkering activities in the area.

“The allegations that my company and I are aiding and abetting illegal oil bunkering are absolute falsehoods and lack merit. As a person, I have never been involved in illegal oil bunkering, even before getting the surveillance contract.”

The MD further said his profile was verified by PINL, who did due diligence before awarding the contract, pointing out that his profile is still on the company’s website for verification.

He added, “The client, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, verified my profile and the profile of our company before entering into the contract with us. We have never been indicted in any form. Before our contract, there were several cases of illegal oil bunkering on the said pipeline.

“There were vandalizations and several valves connected to the pipelines through which the vandals, oil thieves and their cohorts, steal and siphon oil.

“The facts are verifiable on the database of our client. The vandals know that their time is up and oil bunkering is over. They know themselves and at the right time, the law will catch up with them. The maintenance team of our client has repaired the line breaks.”