Martinsevid International Company Nigeria Limited, a private firm providing surveillance services along the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, crude oil pipeline in Rivers and Abia States.
The firm was accused of abetting crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering activities around the Imo River axis cutting across Rivers and Abia states, which is among their area of responsibility, by some OML 11 host communities.
The communities; Isietitioha, Umuorie town, Isimiri autonomous community, Owaza clan in Asa, Ukwa West LGA of Abia State and Umuedeokwara in Odagwa community in Etche council of Rivers State all called on the Federal Government and the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited to immediately replace the contractor for alleged gross incompetence.
They also alleged that illegal oil bunkering activities has increased in the communities, with the environment heavily polluted, since the company took over the surveillance contract in the area.
But in his response, Engr Martins Noah, the Managing Director, Martinsevid Nigeria Limited, while briefing Journalists in Port Harcourt at the weekend, described the allegations against the company by the host communities as false and unfounded.
Noah said the firm is not involved in crude oil theft and cannot support, encourage or give cover to oil thieves to carryout their illegal bunkering activities within their area of responsibilities.
He also dismissed claims that they did not consult with the people before commencing operation in the area.
“Let me address the allegations of illegal oil bunkering on the Imo2/Owaza/Kom Kom/Ogale trunk line. There is nothing like that. The allegations that my company and I are aiding and abetting illegal oil bunkering are absolute falsehood and lack merit.
“We were awarded the contract by the Pipelines Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd. (PINL) and we resumed operations on 1 November, 2023 as pipeline surveillance contractor on the OML 11 trunk line owned by NPDC.
“At that 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.
“Prior to our contract, there were several cases of illegal oil bunkering on the said pipeline. There were so many illegal valves on the line connected to the pipelines through which the vandals, oil thieves and their cohorts, steal and siphon oil.
“Our company, within the four months of our operations in OML 11, uncovered over twenty five (25) valves installed by the vandals and oil thieves through which they perpetrate their illegal bunkering activities. These were promptly reported to the maintenance team, who has dismantled them. The facts are verifiable on the data base 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,” he said.
Speaking further he said, “As a person, I have never been involved in illegal oil bunkering even before getting the surveillance contract. The client, being PINL verified my profile and that of our company before entering into the contract with us. We have never been indicted in any form.
“We made every necessary consultation in every community involved in the pipeline in OML 11 starting from Odagwa, Etche L.G.A., to Ogalle in Eleme L.G.A., both in Rivers state, and the communities nominated the workers we employed for the surveillance operation. The claim that we did not consult them is a cheap political and economic point.”
Speaking on the alleged claims of environmental pollution in Owaza by the community, caused by the company Noah said, “I want to repeat that Martinsevid Nig Ltd. started operation on the 1st day of November, 2023 and following the tremendous achievements, extinguished vandalization of the oil pipelines in Owaza and oil bunkering. There is no record of spillage in Owaza within the four months between November, 2023 and February, 2024. You can verify from the Pipelines Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd. records don’t lie.”
He stated that those blackmailing his company were being sponsored by their competitors to spread falsehood against them. “It is not a surprise that when you fight corruption, it usually fights back. I am a patriotic citizen of Nigeria and uphold the country’s dignity. I cannot indulge in economic sabotage, never.
“There is a smear campaign against Martinsevid by Frinkline Nigeria Ltd. The people fighting me and my company are unhappy that the revolution has come to stay. They succeeded in getting the client to terminate the contract on 29″ February, 2024, to enable them continue their activities. They will be exposed soon.”
He however urged his client and the public to disregard the accusations as they were borne out of greed and envy.
